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Addiction, particularly nicotine and cigarette smoking, remains a major concern in today’s society. According to the World Health Organization (2020), approximately 22.3% of the world’s population is affected by smoking. Although up to 70% of smokers express a desire to quit, research shows that only 6% are successful in doing so.

Many successful professionals struggle to enjoy their accomplishments. Our brains’ reward system, especially the neurotransmitter dopamine, drives us to achieve goals and rewards us with a great sense of pleasure when we do. But that pleasure is short lived, as our brains are hardwired to also seek balance from extreme emotional states. That leaves us with an empty longing to repeat whatever experience brought us that pleasure in the first place. This ostensibly addictive cycle throws our “enoughness” barometers completely out of whack, preventing us from being able to objectively gauge if what we’ve achieved is, in fact, satisfying. That’s why, although most of us intuitively know that happiness isn’t realized from the pursuit of money, status, or fame, we can’t stop ourselves from trying. If you really want lasting satisfaction in life, you’ll need to relearn your approach to finding it. The author presents several strategies.

What is addiction? According to most experts, the issue is actually more complicated that most people realize. Here's what to know about this "spectrum."

Constantly scrolling through bad news, or doomscrolling, has negative effects on mental health. Here's how to kick the habit while staying informed.

Between the boundlessness of connectivity and the potential for secret experience—read: porn—smartphones have become the stealth saboteurs of our most intimate relationships. It's your job to take back control.