Hey hey,
 
This is Kam Knight, author of Speed Reading, Mind Mapping, and other best selling books.

I intended to start this blog/podcast/channel almost two years ago, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

Though, it has not been in vain, as I have been working on numerous books, courses, and my own growth and healing.

Though all this…

I've learned and discovered some really cool insights

Things people are not talking about--even big names--but are key to your personal growth and living a prosperous life.

So, I’m going to get back to business with this newsletter, and share some life changing knowledge.

Since the year is coming to a close, and many are going to set New Year’s goals and resolutions, I’m gong to discuss ways to start the new year on the right foot!

As I always say, succeeding in New Year starts before the new year, and that’s what the next few emails will help you do.

I will start by talking about the "Dopamine Loop"

You may already know that dopamine is a feel good chemical released by the brain.

However, different people understand it differently.

Pop culture leads us to believe it is the chemical of pleasure or reward.

Contrary to perception, dopamine is not released when we get a reward, but in…

Anticipation of a reward!

That’s right, in anticipation!

This is a very important to understand, specially as it relates to New Year’s resolutions, because you’re going to get a rush of dopamine simply by setting a goal.

Not by acting on, realizing, or achieving the goal, but simply by setting it.

The anticipation is going to make you feel so great, and for some, put them in a state of ecstasy.

You know the feeling, where you start thinking:

Yes, things are going to change

I’m going to get organized, take action, and life will be great

Unlike before, this time I'm going to do it!

Instead, however, two things happen:

1. You don’t take action.

Why should you?

You already experienced the emotional reward.

Without lifting a finger, you received the oh so pleasurable hit of gratification and accomplishment.

So, there’s no need to take action.

2. You set more goals.

Once the dopamine rush fades, you set another goal, either the same one or something different.

The anticipation of realizing the new goal gives you another dopamine rush.

This is why we are such a target focused, goal driven society, even when we rarely achieve those targets or goals--it’s so emotionally arousing.

In a way, it's the easiest and cheapest way to get high off our own brain chemicals.

Though, be careful of this cycle!

If you’ve followed my work on habits, you know anything can become a habit, including this cycle.

Set a goal, get high on dopamine, after failing to achieve it, set another one, get high on dopamine again, and so on.

Once this cycle becomes habit, that’s it, you’re stuck in it forever!

You can't achieve anything because once you set something, habit wants you to fail, so you set another goal, just to continue the habitual pattern.

I can’t tell you how many people are caught in this sequence.

That’s why they can’t make meaningful progress in their life.

So, be wary of the “emotional high” as you set, plan, and get motivated about new year or any goals!
 
More on this in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.