Day 1 – The domino effect

Here we go…

Well, now I’ve done it. Once again committing to something that I am going to dread doing. I recently committed to a daily blog updating everyone on my quest to becoming a better person by focusing on being more healthy and happy (If not I invite you to listen to Episode 16 – A D.O.S.E. of Happiness). Well did I tell you that I am a major procrastinator? If one of the things I like most about myself is that I am an eternal optimist, then one of the things I like the least is that I procrastinate. The problem with procrastination is it often effects my mood, sense of accomplishment, and how I feel that day. I’ve never really understood why… until prepping for my last podcast. I’m not going to go into great detail here, since I’ve already covered it in the podcast, but our body releases four very different chemicals that affect how we feel each day.

• Dopamine
• Oxytocin
• Serotonin
• Endorphins

How and when our body releases these chemicals is meant to help keep us alive and move the species forward. Well, these days we can pretty much stay alive without any of them, but no wonder we have bad days, feeling like shit, sitting on our couch in the basement. As alcoholics we have found “the easier softer way” to feel better about ourselves. Alcohol! The only problem is, over time, we require more and more and all our problems, and shitty feelings, are still there the next morning. Soon we are a rat in a cage, pressing the button for more, with no regard for anyone or anything else (Ep 15 – The Disease of Addiction). It is at that point a lucky few of us (10-15%) have decided to seek help. Even fewer of us yet are finally in a place where we can appreciate how our lives have turned around and how great our life has become. Well, even though I feel I am one of the lucky ones I still have bad days and my goal has always been to live life Healthy. Happy. Sober.

As I sit here today I really feel I have the Sober part down. I go to 2-3 meetings a week, I have a sponsor I meet with or talk with weekly, and I makes sure to live life 24 hours at a time. I understand we really never have it licked, and we have to work at it each day, but I also am going to give myself credit for putting in the work to get to where I am today, and if you have put in the work, you should too!

What’s Next?

For me, it’s time to put some work in on the Healthy. Happy. part and I feel I have a better understanding of how to do this and so, documenting my journey along the way, HERE WE GO!

Did I mention I like to procrastinate?

Well I now know not only why I do it, but why I don’t feel great about myself afterwards. Dopamine! Dopamine is the chemical released, after we check something off our to do list, that motivates us to move onto the next task. If we don’t complete a task first thing in the morning, our body isn’t gong to release dopamine to reward and motivate us to move onto the next one.

Make it something easy… so you do it.

Since my last podcast I have made an effort to complete a task first thing in the morning to start this chain reaction. First thing in the morning I am able to check something off my to do list while still laying in bed.

1. Read from 24 Hours a Day, Daily Reflections, Stepping Stones, or all three.

By checking something off my list, my brain releases a shot of dopamine so I am motivated to move on to the next task. It is important to remember the affects of dopamine are not long lasting. They can’t be, or they wouldn’t be motivating, but that being said, here I sit about to release a blog as my second task of the day and I feel great.

Longer lasting is the goal

Our longer term goals should be the releases of oxytocin, serotonin, or endorphins, but it’s dopamine that get’s the ball rolling for me. Dopamine, along with a cup of coffee, gave me the motivation to stop procrastinating and sit down to write this blog and I expect it is what will motivate me to write another tomorrow.

What I count on is this being domino effect. Dopamine motivates me to accomplish things that will release the longer lasting chemicals. Dopamine motivated me to write this blog and that gives me a sense of leadership and accomplishment (Serotonin). My dog happens to be laying on me as I write it and when my wife gets home I am going to tell her about it (Oxytocin). Also, I’m not going to let this good feeling I have right now go to waste, so I am motivated to next go on a very long fast pace walk (Endorphins). Soon walking isn’t going to be enough to trigger the endorphins and I’ll need to move on to something more rigorous (Endorphins are only triggered by pushing yourself past your comfort zone) but that is for another blog and why this is a six week journey.

I must say I am already pleased with how day 1 is going and I hope this podcast/blog motivates you to join me. I look forward to the continued positive changes in my mood and health, so I can start living my life Healthy. Happy. Sober., not just sober.