ABRIDGED PREVIEW: this is a shortened version of the chapter. The complete chapter is in the full audiobook.

Quit Cheap Dopamine by Nick Trenton: Chapter 1, an audiobook preview.

In this chapter, we delve into the complexities of dopamine and its role in our desires versus actual enjoyment. We learn from researchers who have altered dopamine levels in animals to see how it affects their work ethic for sugar and their genuine enjoyment of it. This study reveals that desire and enjoyment are two separate things—just because you want something doesn't mean you'll enjoy it as much when you finally get it.

We explore the concept of "stuck" brains, where the pull towards a stimulus no longer checks whether the reward is there or not. For instance, your brain might be conditioned to expect notifications every few seconds, making slower pleasures feel less rewarding in comparison. This constant influx of new things raises our pleasure bar so high that normal life can't match up.

To understand these changes better and track them over time, we introduce a simple method for measuring enjoyment levels before quitting any habit. By scoring how much you truly enjoy something—like your morning coffee—before making any changes, you can set reminders to reassess after two weeks. This process helps identify whether your brain's bar has really moved or if it’s just your expectations that have shifted.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:15 Chapter 1: The Bar Moved

2:20 Your Dopamine Isn’t Your Joy

5:14 The Pull Doesn’t Care What’s on Offer

9:40 The Gray List

14:43 Joanna’s First Three Numbers

17:37 Outro

The release date will be announced. This preview is shared with permission and is available on this channel for a limited time. It will come down when the audiobook is released.

Audiobook details: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HQSWJNLC

#dopamine #addiction #pleasure

When anxiety creeps in during a hectic day, a few minutes of mindfulness meditation can shift everything. Nick Trenton shares simple, grounded techniques to weave mindfulness for busy schedules into your busiest moments—no long sit required. Learn how 10 minute mindfulness sessions (or even 5) can become your reset button, whether you're at work or between tasks.

⏱ CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

2:15 Mindfulness in Brief Moments

3:15 Enlightenment and Daily Chores

4:48 Importance of Consistency Over Duration

5:54 Mindfulness During Routine Tasks

7:36 Reframing Everyday Activities

8:08 Next Episode Preview

Join Nick Trenton for a journey into calming your mind and managing anxiety through simple yet powerful mindfulness techniques. Whether you're looking to reset your mindset with a quick 5-minute meditation during a busy workday or dive deeper with a 10-minute mindfulness session, Nick offers practical tips and guided meditations that fit any schedule. From mindful breathing exercises to thoughtful insights inspired by Zen koans like "chop wood carry water," discover how to integrate daily mindfulness practices into your hectic life.

Hear it Here - www.audible.com.au/pd/B08JH8NDFD/?source_code=AUDORWS022318009D-BK-ACX0-216537&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_216537_pd_au

Check it out at www.audible.com.au/pd/B08JH8NDFD/?source_code=AUDORWS022318009D-BK-ACX0-216537&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_216537_pd_au

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWFnONPWH9KovyVXBsGSB-g

Feeling overwhelmed by racing thoughts? This video shares grounding exercises and sensory focus techniques to help you calm down when anxiety peaks. Nick Trenton walks you through practical steps rooted in cognitive behavioral approaches that you can use right now to manage anxious feelings and regain a sense of control. Whether you're dealing with everyday worry, trauma responses, or more intense moments, these ways to calm down are designed to help you ground yourself when your mind won't settle.

If you're struggling with anxiety or overthinking and looking for ways to calm down during a racing mind or panic attack, Nick Trenton's channel "The Path to Calm" is here to help. From grounding techniques and exercises that can reduce anxiety in the moment to insights on cognitive behavioral methods and mental health education, we aim to provide you with tools to manage your anxiety and break free from thought loops and trauma triggers.

Check it out at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GHQVH61H

Hear it Here - URL

Check it out at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLNDKQ6K

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWFnONPWH9KovyVXBsGSB-g