I was recently taken by an interview with Robert Lustig, author of New York Times bestseller, Fat Chance, in which he argues the difference between pleasure and happiness. In his estimation, not only are they nothing like each other, one actually negates the other.
His studies show that when we ingest stimulants like sugar or alcohol, etc. they trigger visceral pleasure, something within the body that the advertising industry would have us believe is happiness. In fact, it’s just pleasure. True happiness is ethereal, something felt from action rather than, in the main, absorption.
He proposes that pleasure is short-lived, happiness long; pleasure is taking (something), happiness is giving; pleasure is usually experienced alone, happiness socially; and pleasure can be achieved with substances, happiness not. In short, pleasure is dopamine; happiness is Serotonin.
Dopamine in small doses is essential, but overdo it, and it actually damages the brain cells, meaning that next time we need more to achieve the same ‘highs’ (addiction). Serotonin however actually calms the neighbouring cells. But the one thing that down-regulates Serotonin is dopamine. So, the more substances we put into our bodies to induce dopamine (pleasure), like sugars, alcohol, drugs, fatty foods, etc. the further away we push true happiness.
For me, this was a lightbulb moment. Finding ‘wholesome’ information about how our bodies function is difficult when the advertising and food industries are so powerful, but it is out there. Will I still have that doughnut now? Of course! But at least I’ll be aware of its true cost and make sure it’s a treat, rather than a staple.