# Understanding the Neuroscience of Keeping Commitments and Bad Habits
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Chapter 1: The Science Behind Broken Promises
Today, we delve into a topic that resonates with many of us: the neuroscience that explains why we struggle to keep our commitments, especially when faced with temptation.
We all know someone—or perhaps we are that person—who finds it difficult to adhere to their promises. Whether it's planning a healthy day but ending up partying until dawn or vowing never to reconnect with a toxic partner only to find ourselves back in their arms within days, the struggle is real.
This phenomenon also affects those who aim to shed pounds or curb stress eating, only to be ensnared by their own habits. Despite our best intentions, we often succumb to detrimental patterns of behavior, fully aware of their negative consequences.
Just as conflicts rage across the globe, we experience our own internal battles: the clash between what we know to be right and what our brain craves.
Section 1.1: The Role of Desire in Bad Habits
Desire is a powerful force that drives our actions, often leading us into unfavorable habits. It's the compelling urge to pursue something, ranging from mild interest to overpowering temptation. Despite its role in fostering bad habits, desire is crucial for our survival, pushing us to seek food, companionship, and new opportunities.
This evolutionary adaptation prioritizes rewarding experiences, explaining why certain foods, like sugar, are particularly enticing. Sugar-rich foods provided essential energy for our ancestors, activating our brain’s motivation center unlike any other sustenance.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Brain’s Reward System
The reward center of our brain is responsible for generating feelings of desire. Its primary function is to drive us toward pleasurable experiences, aided by the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Dopamine is released in anticipation of rewards, signaling our brain when something enjoyable may be within reach. For example, when passing the candy aisle, dopamine prompts us to fill our carts with sweets. However, dopamine itself doesn't create pleasure; instead, it nudges us toward it. The experience of pleasure is complex and involves various neurochemicals, primarily opioids.
Section 1.2: The Pitfalls of the Reward System
The challenge with our motivation center is that it focuses on immediate gratification, often ignoring long-term consequences. For instance, while indulging in sugary treats may feel satisfying at the moment, the long-term effects on our health can be detrimental.
As we repeatedly activate this area of the brain, we form stronger connections to our immediate pleasures, making it increasingly challenging to resist them.
Chapter 2: The Conflict Between Desire and Reason
The struggle between desire and logic is evident in those who repeatedly engage in self-sabotaging behaviors. Individuals who lack healthy boundaries are often more likely to return to toxic relationships or abandon their diets.
This conflict arises from the tug-of-war between the prefrontal cortex—responsible for rational decision-making—and the motivation center, which seeks instant gratification.
When we consistently engage our reward system, our prefrontal cortex struggles to assert control, leading to impulsive decisions and, ultimately, addiction.
The first video, The Science of Making & Breaking Habits, explores the mechanisms behind habit formation and how to effectively change them.
Section 2.1: Empowering the Prefrontal Cortex
To regain control over our desires, we must strengthen our prefrontal cortex. This can be achieved by resisting the urge to activate our motivation center and changing our behaviors.
As Donald Hebb famously stated, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” Thus, by reducing our engagement in harmful habits, we can weaken the neural connections within the motivation center.
However, this process can be complicated, as many desires are intertwined with coping strategies for emotional stress. For instance, individuals may reconnect with an ex out of loneliness, driven by the brain's natural inclination to seek comfort.
In the second video, The Neuroscience of Habit with Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, you'll gain insights into the brain's role in habit formation and how to break free from negative cycles.
Strengthening the prefrontal cortex can also be accomplished through practices like meditation, which has been shown to enhance gray matter concentration in the frontal lobes. These structural changes improve our ability to apply logic during critical moments.
Many people struggle to keep their commitments due to a lack of experience. We often choose fleeting desires over lasting satisfaction, resulting in changes in our brain function that impede logical decision-making.
Ultimately, breaking free from harmful habits involves changing our behaviors, understanding the motivations behind them, and retraining our minds for a healthier future.
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