A Chapter 5 Review from “Born to Walk” by Mark Sisson and Brad Kearns
We’re living in a time where it’s easier than ever to feel good for a moment—but harder than ever to feel fulfilled. If you’ve ever caught yourself endlessly scrolling, reaching for snacks you didn’t plan to eat, or wondering why achievement feels so hollow these days, you’re not alone. In Chapter 5 of Born to Walk, authors Mark Sisson and Brad Kearns break down why our modern world hijacks our pleasure systems—and what we can do to reclaim the deep joy we’re wired for.
The Hijacking of the Human Brain
According to Dr. Robert Lustig, we’re being programmed—by design. Profit-seeking corporations have mastered the art of hijacking our dopamine system with hyper-palatable junk foods, social media, video games, and instant entertainment. These hits are quick, easy, and addictive.
But here’s the catch: repeated dopamine flooding blocks receptors for serotonin and oxytocin—the very chemicals that allow us to feel lasting joy, connection, and peace.
Dopamine makes us crave more. Serotonin makes us feel like we have enough. When serotonin is drowned out, we start living in a state of constant desire without contentment—always reaching but never arriving.
Why Quick Hits Don’t Make Us Happy
The chapter explores how our biological wiring has evolved for fulfillment through effort, challenge, and purpose. Cooking a meal with family, finishing a meaningful task, creating art, going for a walk, or connecting with someone—these are acts that produce serotonin and oxytocin. They make us feel whole.
But we’ve been rewired to prefer shortcuts.
Every swipe, snack, like, and binge keeps us stuck in a dopamine loop—one that prevents us from experiencing the very neurotransmitters that lead to emotional regulation, inner peace, and a sense of meaning. We’re constantly chasing, instead of being.
The Neurochemical Balancing Act
There are four primary neurotransmitters that shape our experience of life:
- Dopamine – the seeker. It motivates and rewards.
- Serotonin – the regulator. It gives us peace and contentment.
- GABA – the calmer. It soothes and reduces anxiety.
- Acetylcholine – the learner. It aids focus, memory, and curiosity.
Modern life overstimulates dopamine while suppressing the rest. The result? A society that’s anxious, overstimulated, disconnected, and constantly craving more.
Even in the realm of fitness, this imbalance shows up. Intense workouts, extreme competitiveness, and chasing the elusive “runner’s high” can be addictive. Endorphins—the body’s natural painkillers—can feel euphoric, but they evolved to help us survive life-or-death situations, not serve as a daily escape. Overuse of this system can stress the body, tax the immune system, and erode long-term health.
Porn, Video Games, and the False Wins
Video games and pornography are two modern inventions that hijack male biology in a particularly deceptive way. They simulate, through digital fantasy, the two greatest masculine evolutionary drives: conquering challenges and acquiring a mate.
The problem? These virtual wins come with zero real-world risk or reward. Dopamine skyrockets, but there’s no serotonin or oxytocin to follow. It’s all stimulation, no satisfaction.
Finding Joy in Real Life Again
The antidote to dopamine domination isn’t quitting cold turkey—it’s rebalancing.
We thrive when we live lives filled with real, meaningful effort:
- Discovering your natural talents
- Pursuing a vocation that brings value to others
- Facing and overcoming real challenges
- Moving your body in healthy, natural ways
As Roger Bannister once said, “The essence of sports is that while you’re doing it, nothing else matters, but after you stop, there is a place, generally not very important, where you would put it.” That’s the mindset we need—not overidentifying with our workouts or wins, but engaging fully and then letting go.
Movement, creativity, community, challenge, and rest—these are the ingredients for a neurochemically balanced life. When we stop chasing quick hits and start building meaningful experiences, we restore our serotonin, regulate our dopamine, and reconnect with the joy that lives inside us.
Want to Reclaim Your Brain and Body?
If you’re tired of chasing fleeting dopamine and ready to start building lasting health, fulfillment, and confidence—I can help.
I coach men who are sick of the quick fixes and want real, sustainable transformation. My methods are natural, proven, and rooted in helping you reclaim your strength, purpose, and energy without the gimmicks.
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