W<\/span>e all want to be both successful and happy, but most of us struggle with finding the delicate balance between joy and growth. It often seems that focusing on one aspect comes at the expense of the other, creating a zero-sum game where it\u2019s impossible to have both.<\/p>\n I believed in that myth for most of my life. Until neuroscience showed me an alternative path\u2026<\/p>\n I was born in an area near the border of China, in today\u2019s Kyrgyzstan. I grew up poor, so I vowed to do whatever it took to have a better life\u2014even if it meant making big sacrifices.<\/p>\n I began working at the age of 10, and by 14, I was studying at university. At 16, I owned a business, earning more than my parents. At 19, I got a full scholarship at MIT, and by 23, I sold my space tech startup, becoming the youngest exec in the world aerospace industry.<\/p>\n Sounds like a dream? It didn\u2019t feel like one. My Joy\/Growth ratio was at 0\/100. I was very successful but completely miserable.<\/p>\n I was 25 when I realized I couldn\u2019t do that anymore. I decided to quit my job and study the human brain instead of sending satellites into space. My goal was to figure out whether joy and growth were mutually exclusive or if there was a way to have both.<\/p>\n As it turns out, when we experience joy and savor things we already have, our brain produces serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical messenger used by neurons, and it has many functions, but one of the critical ones is regulating mood. When we have higher serotonin levels, we feel calm, content, and satisfied.<\/p>\n When we pursue growth opportunities, our brain produces another chemical messenger \u2013 dopamine. Its role is precisely the opposite of serotonin: it fuels our desire for achievements and appetite for material possessions, wealth, and recognition.<\/p>\n Essentially, serotonin promotes a sense of satisfaction, causing us to slow down, whereas dopamine fuels dissatisfaction, driving us to push further. Dopamine, serotonin, and circuits in the brain function similarly to the gas and brake pedals in a car \u2013 you can\u2019t press both simultaneously.<\/p>\n But there is something else you can do.<\/p>\n To have a thriving brain and a fulfilling life, you need activities that bring joy and those that foster growth. Joyful activities provide a sense of well-being and contentment, while growth-oriented activities challenge you to learn, evolve, and expand your horizons.<\/p>\n And even though you can\u2019t have them both simultaneously, you can layer these activities into your schedule and create a balanced daily routine that nourishes both your happiness and personal development and helps you thrive.<\/p>\n I call it the \u201clayered cake\u201d method.<\/p>\n Implementing the \u201clayered cake\u201d method involves three steps:<\/p>\n Before incorporating joy and growth activities into your schedule, take the time to evaluate your current routine. What does your Joy\/Growth ratio look like? Is there any imbalance? How much time do you spend each week pursuing more vs. enjoying what is? The reality is it doesn\u2019t have to be 50\/50, but bringing awareness to your current situation is critically important.<\/p>\n Joy and Growth are deeply personal; an activity that brings joy to you, like playing the piano or painting, may be a growth opportunity for someone else. Create a list of 7-10 activities that define Joy and Growth specifically for you.<\/p>\n Block time in your calendar for Joy and Growth activities, layering them in your schedule. Recognize that perfect balance is impossible, so stay flexible. Dedicate 15 minutes each weekend to adjust your plans based on changing needs and priorities.<\/p>\n The belief that Joy and Growth are a zero-sum game is a myth. Neuroscience teaches us that even though we can\u2019t experience them simultaneously, we can integrate both into our lives. By thoughtfully layering joy and growth activities into your daily routine, you can craft a schedule that nurtures your well-being and helps you thrive.<\/p>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n Is it possible to have both?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[170,172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spring-summer-2023","category-spring-summer-2023-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13731"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14039,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13731\/revisions\/14039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Growth at Any Cost<\/h3>\n
You Can\u2019t Have Both Simultaneously<\/h3>\n
Layers of Joy and Growth<\/h3>\n
Three Steps to Fulfilling Life<\/h3>\n
Step 1. Assess your current Joy\/Growth ratio<\/h4>\n
Step 2. Identify sources of Joy and Growth<\/h4>\n
Step 3. Bake layers of Joy and Growth into your calendar<\/h4>\n
Katerina Lengold<\/a> is a former space tech entrepreneur turned brain researcher and mental health advocate. A graduate of MIT, Katerina started college at age 14 and holds multiple degrees, including in computer science, business administration, economics, and data science. By the age of 23, Katerina sold her space tech startup, ImageAiry, and had become the youngest executive in the world aerospace industry. After severe burnout, she turned her interest from launching satellites to studying the human brain. Katerina is a founder of the Neurointegration Institute<\/a> and has taught her method to over 27,000 people from over 40 countries.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"