Why does the brain seek constant gratification even though it knows it should be focusing on something that will benefit it in the long term? How do you combat this feeling of constantly wanting to seek content or anything that can cause you to feel good in the present moment and not focus on what will benefit you in the long term? I can't break out of this spell.

>>16691829 (OP)
the dopamine neurons you have, are not all the same type

There are some dopamine neurons that ramp up slowly over time, and are good at maintaining motivation for long-term rewards. There are others that fire in a burst at any short-term reward. You need a mix of different ones to have a robust, healthy reward system.

You can read about this here:
https://neurosciencenews.com/dopamine-future-reward-29218/

What this means is that your brain probably trains and enhances the dopamine neuron subtype that matches the rewards that you are constantly encountering. If you want to get better at delayed gratification, you have to force yourself to ignore those tempting, immediate rewards. AND you can't just restrict yourself like a monk, you need to introduce real long-term rewards to your life and make sure you actually get them a few times and savor the moment, think about what it will be worth later if you are struggling, etc

>>16691829 (OP)
try rewarding yourself with drugs for actually difficult stuff like getting a promotion, there is a reason people like to drink and smoke to celebrate. If you are consistent about this, these boosted rewards might encode into positive behavior later

>>16691829 (OP)
i don't know, but let me remind you that chris chan had sex with his mama

In the state of nature, instant gratification to the detriment of future results was not really possible, and so we evolved to be this way.

You need to develop discipline. Good habits and a routine as well as a motivating goal. I keep a habit of prayer (Salat) and my goal is to help those in need and save my people from zionist gencide. This motivates me to succeed.

>>16691829 (OP)
Because the long term is fickle. "Will benefit" is actually "might benefit" and the perception of long term benefit probably varies with your general sense of stability.

>>16691829 (OP)
>Why does the brain seek constant gratification even though it knows it should be focusing on something that will benefit it in the long term?
The brain is desperately trying to tell you that the "long term" is bullshit. Long term you're dead, why not kill yourself then?

Because the brain likes to do things that are really interesting.

>>16691829 (OP)
1) psychologically, its a coping mechanism to escape death all around us. Death of phenomena.
2) in behaviorism, its brain rewards attention seeking behavior due to evolutionary threat seeking function

>>16691829 (OP)
Because you trained it to.

Because evolution results in good enough, not optimal organisms, there obviously will always be midwits and RETARDS depending on geniuses.

>>16692135
I keep habit of mindfulness and meditation and my goal is to help those in need and save people from radical loons. This motivates me to succeed.