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Abstract

was expecting something that you don’t have, or you can’t afford it — hoping to feel better when you get it.</p><p id="e33d">It never happens. The question is:</p><p id="88c9" type="7">Why do we continue believing that getting something is going to make you feel better? It’s never enough.</p><p id="83c1">Let's break this down.</p><figure id="8ca9"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*mjfGRtM41IdlqFDR"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jonzerger?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Jonathan Zerger</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="1c04">Certainly, we shouldn’t believe that external gratification will last long. It is just a lack of reality.</p><p id="da3f">Surely, It will make you feel good for a certain period, if you are ok with that is fine. Just be aware of it. And don’t rely on it if you want a long term satisfaction.</p><h1 id="1831">If you want a long last satisfaction: choose your goals according to your values</h1><p id="b9e3">I will bother you with this, but I agree if you start choosing your small goals according to your values, you will never regret it.</p><p id="74e5">I don't know which your values are. They can be honest, security, integrity, money, creativity, and so on. But I can assure you that it will work.</p><p id="66a8" type="7">Remember, always make your decisions and actions according to your values. Even if the outcome is not that great you will never regret.</p><h1 id="4d48">Internal satisfaction: The key to happiness</h1><p id="e095">It’s the truth money is essential. However, we all should do thing what makes us happy without thinking about it. At least on weekends.</p><blockquote id="15ca"><p>I remember a good friend told me once: What do you do on Saturday mornings? When you don’t have to work.</p></blockquote><p id="bd3e">I used to work as a programmer before. I never felt I could do that in my free time. It just was a job that I had to do.</p><p id="3daa">I meet the chef there, and I learned from him when he was cooking that’s why I decide to study gastronomy.</p><p id="f9bf">Even it is something that I like. But to be honest, I can’t cook on Saturday mornings in a restaurant without getting paid.</p><p id="fe4c">What I can do Saturday mornings is writing. I feel relax when I am writing. I am aware I am far from being a prolific writer. But I think writing is like a therapy where I have the freedom to scan my thoughts and write them down.</p><p id="efa0">I know that for now, I can’t make a living writing,

Options

but I want to focus on improving it.</p><p id="41d1">And that is the Internal Gratification which paid off everything. When I receive messages from readers saying thank you for your post, it was really helpful — you feel outstanding.</p><h1 id="4cec">Final Thought</h1><p id="0bed">We all like money, we do. And we should enjoy that gratification and freedom that money can provide you daily.</p><p id="ecd3">But certainly, you should be aware that it is for a moment. It doesn't long last. If you are aware of it is fine. Find something you really like. Make a pause to think about what you enjoy the most.</p><p id="4725">What do you do on Saturday morning? or in your days off.</p><p id="35ad">Maybe you can start spending more hours on it. Find something you really enjoy and you are grateful for. Remember, don't grab the first thing you want without thinking if it will work for you in a long run.</p><p id="ab7c">Thank You For reading!</p><p id="570a">If you want more stories like this or different topics, <a href="https://tremendous-motivator-3624.ck.page/d99ee555ea">let me know here!</a></p><p id="036a"><i>Godofredo Rojas is a writer, chef, and constant learner from Peru. He studied in Le Cordon Bleu in Lima, Peru. He moved to New York in March 2011. You can find him on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chamarro.rojas">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/GodofredoRojas">Twiter.</a></i></p><div id="ba72" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-you-should-stop-comparing-love-with-money-ec3c70d14dcf"> <div> <div> <h2>Why You Should Stop Comparing Love With Money</h2> <div><h3>It doesn’t make sense!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*IqC3hE9kJ15PMwQX)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="8f42" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/5-ways-to-overcome-your-cruel-inner-critic-94e21a46b47d"> <div> <div> <h2>5 Ways to Overcome Your Cruel Inner Critic</h2> <div><h3>What you focus on is what becomes powerful</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*UkZznilgetkxbPX7)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Self

How to Live a Meaningful Life

And overcome instant gratification

“Anything that just costs money is cheap.” ― John Steinbeck

Many times I felt it when I bought something I wanted with the idea I will feel better after or I will do a better job, or I will look better.

You know and I know, there is nothing that will make you feel much better than the instant gratification you feel when you get something you really wanted.

Things are clear and transparent. Just, we don’t want to see. But how can we cultivate a more meaningful life?

The answer is usually complicated. It can depend on many factors.

We all like money, and I think we should. A week ago, I bought a new laptop, I knew it wasn’t going to make me feel better. But just that release of dopamine produced by instant gratification paid off everything —just, for a moment.

Certainly, it can be a problem if you are not aware of this: Our brain is waiting for the release of dopamine produced by instant gratification.

“We know that drugs, sex and rock, and roll stimulates something called dopamine in the brain. So do videogames. Dopamine is something that we crave.” — Devra Davis

Dopamine is known as the feel-good neurotransmitter — a chemical that ferries information between neurons. The brain releases it when we eat food that we crave or while we have sex, contributing to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction as part of the reward system. You get dopamine:

When you extremely want that dessert and you get it.
When you are at the store and you want that beautiful and expensive dress which you were dreaming about, and you get it.
When you are looking at your watch, thinking about leaving your tedious job to go to the closest bar and grab a beer and you get it (this was my case).

Dopamine plays a essential role in how we feel instant pleasure.

And let me tell you a secret. It doesn't last long. Everyone at least once was expecting something that you don’t have, or you can’t afford it — hoping to feel better when you get it.

It never happens. The question is:

Why do we continue believing that getting something is going to make you feel better? It’s never enough.

Let's break this down.

Certainly, we shouldn’t believe that external gratification will last long. It is just a lack of reality.

Surely, It will make you feel good for a certain period, if you are ok with that is fine. Just be aware of it. And don’t rely on it if you want a long term satisfaction.

If you want a long last satisfaction: choose your goals according to your values

I will bother you with this, but I agree if you start choosing your small goals according to your values, you will never regret it.

I don't know which your values are. They can be honest, security, integrity, money, creativity, and so on. But I can assure you that it will work.

Remember, always make your decisions and actions according to your values. Even if the outcome is not that great you will never regret.

Internal satisfaction: The key to happiness

It’s the truth money is essential. However, we all should do thing what makes us happy without thinking about it. At least on weekends.

I remember a good friend told me once: What do you do on Saturday mornings? When you don’t have to work.

I used to work as a programmer before. I never felt I could do that in my free time. It just was a job that I had to do.

I meet the chef there, and I learned from him when he was cooking that’s why I decide to study gastronomy.

Even it is something that I like. But to be honest, I can’t cook on Saturday mornings in a restaurant without getting paid.

What I can do Saturday mornings is writing. I feel relax when I am writing. I am aware I am far from being a prolific writer. But I think writing is like a therapy where I have the freedom to scan my thoughts and write them down.

I know that for now, I can’t make a living writing, but I want to focus on improving it.

And that is the Internal Gratification which paid off everything. When I receive messages from readers saying thank you for your post, it was really helpful — you feel outstanding.

Final Thought

We all like money, we do. And we should enjoy that gratification and freedom that money can provide you daily.

But certainly, you should be aware that it is for a moment. It doesn't long last. If you are aware of it is fine. Find something you really like. Make a pause to think about what you enjoy the most.

What do you do on Saturday morning? or in your days off.

Maybe you can start spending more hours on it. Find something you really enjoy and you are grateful for. Remember, don't grab the first thing you want without thinking if it will work for you in a long run.

Thank You For reading!

If you want more stories like this or different topics, let me know here!

Godofredo Rojas is a writer, chef, and constant learner from Peru. He studied in Le Cordon Bleu in Lima, Peru. He moved to New York in March 2011. You can find him on Facebook and Twiter.