The article explores how expectations significantly shape our emotional experiences, illustrated through personal anecdotes of disappointment following high anticipation. It reveals that dopamine levels are influenced by not just rewards, but also the anticipation built through expectations. When these expectations are not met, it leads to a drop in satisfaction. The piece emphasizes the importance of flexibility in expectations, suggesting that doing so can enhance our emotional resilience and allow us to be more present and curious in our experiences.
Dopamine rises in anticipation, not just reward—and the brain rebalances after a spike.
Letting go of rigid expectations allows for presence, curiosity, and emotional resilience.
At first glance, it seems like the world around us determines how we feel. But the truth is more surprising: our expectations don't just colour experience— they shape it from the inside out.
If reality doesn't meet that promise—not just in terms of plot, acting, or pacing, but in how it lands emotionally relative to your internal narrative—dopamine levels fall.
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