Latest news with #TheSevenTruths:UnpackingthePleasure-HappinessDivide

Time of India

Are you settling for pleasure while chasing happiness? Doctor explains the brain chemistry behind true fulfillment

It began with a casual comment. In a striking anecdote from an old University of California lecture, Dr. Robert Lustig recounted a moment that sparked a profound realization. A woman, fresh from bariatric surgery, was asked how she stayed so slim. Her response was matter-of-fact: 'I eat only when I'm hungry.' To which another responded, 'Eating is for happiness.' #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack PM Modi-led 'Super Cabinet' reviews J&K security arrangements Pakistan's General Asim Munir is itching for a fight. Are his soldiers willing? India planning to launch military strike against Pakistan within 24 to 36 hours, claims Pak minister That reply, simple yet striking, sent Lustig down a path of inquiry. Had we, as a society, blurred the line between hunger and emotional craving? Between fleeting pleasure and sustainable happiness? The Seven Truths: Unpacking the Pleasure-Happiness Divide Lustig, professor emeritus at UCSF and a pioneer in childhood obesity research, presents a clear framework. Pleasure, he explains, is short-lived, visceral, and inherently self-centered. It's driven by dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brain's reward system. Think sugar highs, Instagram likes, and online shopping splurges — they light us up for a moment, but leave us emptier afterward. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Happiness, by contrast, is long-lasting, ethereal, and tied to giving rather than taking. Its chemical anchor is serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to calm, contentment, and connection. Unlike pleasure, it isn't addictive — you can't overdose on too much happiness. When Dopamine Drowns Out Serotonin The real kicker, Lustig says, is that dopamine and serotonin don't coexist peacefully. The more we chase dopamine-driven highs — through sugar, screens, status, or substances — the more we downregulate our serotonin receptors. In essence, the relentless pursuit of pleasure doesn't just fail to deliver happiness. It actively sabotages it. You Might Also Like: Passenger offers seat to elderly man on bus, walks away with a life-changing lesson This neurological seesaw is why today's hyperconnected, hyperstimulated lives leave so many feeling more anxious, lonely, and dissatisfied than ever before. The System Is Rigged — And It's Selling You Pleasure From Madison Avenue to Silicon Valley, Lustig argues, powerful industries have learned to exploit this confusion. They've hijacked our neurochemistry to sell pleasure as a stand-in for happiness. A fast-food meal becomes a comfort ritual. A social media notification mimics a hug. A shopping spree promises fulfillment. But none of these deliver the real thing. In his provocative book The Hacking of the American Mind , Lustig lays bare how corporations thrive on this neurological sleight-of-hand — and how we, unknowingly, participate in our own discontent. A Radical Prescription: The Four Cs So what's the cure? Lustig doesn't just diagnose; he offers a roadmap. His prescription for long-term happiness revolves around what he calls the Four Cs: You Might Also Like: From career to fitness, what is secret of happiness? Billionaire Harsh Goenka shares a life lesson from Gaur Gopal Das Connect – Invest in genuine relationships. Whether it's friends, family, or even pets, human connection boosts serotonin and grounds us emotionally. Contribute – Do something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, teach, share your knowledge — the act of giving nurtures purpose. Cope – Take care of your mind and body. Sleep well, practice mindfulness, and stay active. Coping is not avoidance; it's resilience. Cook – Reclaim control over what you eat. Preparing real food with real ingredients counters the chemical chaos of processed diets. You Might Also Like: Peace first or happiness first? Rs 5,000 crore man's advice will make you rethink Are You Really Happy — Or Just Numb? In a culture that equates success with speed and fulfillment with consumption, Dr. Lustig's message is a call to pause — and question. Are you truly happy, or just comfortable? Are you finding peace, or merely escaping pain? You may not be addicted to a substance, but if the difference between a 'want' and a 'need' has blurred, it might be time to recalibrate. Because pleasure will always whisper — but happiness waits for those who listen more deeply.