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From Dopamine Trap to True Life Purpose: What Odysseus Still Teaches Us Today

Illustration of Odysseus looking out over the sea, symbolizing the inner journey between true adventure and the dopamine trap in modern life.

Why should we seek true adventure? Because true adventure doesn’t mean leaving everything behind – but becoming who you truly are.

This article examines the dopamine trap of modern overstimulation and the quest for genuine meaning in life – inspired by Odysseus’ inner journey.



Do you know the story of King Odysseus?


Odysseus was the ruler of Ithaca – a clever, sensitive man and general who had everything that truly matters: a beloved partner, a newborn child, and a peaceful home. And then came the call to war – precisely because he was so skilled in strategy.


Helen, the queen of Sparta, had been abducted by the Trojans – an attack on the pride and honor of all of Greece. Odysseus was affected too, because he, like many others, had once sworn to protect Helen’s marriage and thereby the Greek alliance. Two old friends and generals came to remind him of that oath. The war against Troy began, and all of Helen’s former suitors were summoned to fight.


But Odysseus didn’t want to go. Why should he leave his family? His home? His peace? His comfort? He had found what so many people are searching for – and now he was expected to exchange it for bloodshed and uncertainty?


So, when the envoys arrived, he pretended to be insane. He yoked an ox and a horse to a plow and sowed salt into the field. But one of the generals saw through the act. He placed Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, in front of the plow – and Odysseus swerved to avoid him. That made it clear: he was of sound mind. And the call could no longer be ignored.


What followed was more than a war. It was the beginning of a deep, inner journey – the journey to his true self.


The gods – especially Athena and Poseidon – were not just offended out of vanity, but because Odysseus refused to accept the adventure of growth, maturity, and responsibility.


And so, the true Odyssey began: ten years full of trials, temptations, pain, learning, and transformation. Athena and Poseidon represent two fundamental forces of life:


  • Athena stands for wisdom, inner guidance, and development. She loves Odysseus for his cleverness and challenges him to grow beyond himself. In the Bodymind system, she represents the inner father – the voice that calls us to maturity and doesn’t let go when we belittle ourselves.


  • Poseidon symbolizes the chaotic, unpredictable element – the sea, the unconscious, life itself, when we try to control it instead of facing it. He stands for the inner animal – the instinctive, wild, emotional self. Whoever ignores or suppresses it will be tested – not out of punishment, but because life seeks wholeness.


  • The lesson: Whoever doesn’t follow the inner call will still be sent on the path – often under more painful conditions, because they go against their nature and the inner order of life. Odysseus’s refusal didn’t bring him safety – it led him into a deeper journey toward his true self.


Life cannot be tricked – it will find you. And if you’re willing to learn, it will reward you for it.



Between the Dopamine Trap and the Meaning of Life


True dopamine release happens when we create something greater than our pleasure. When we overcome fears to master real-life adventures. When we persevere, even when things are hard, frustrating, and seem hopeless. When we make mistakes, we learn from them and grow through them. That is adventure. That is development. That is the journey Athena calls for.



The True Dopamine Journey: Resilience Instead of Sensory Overload


True dopamine release happens when we face real challenges and learn from them, not when we follow artificially generated stimuli that only provide short-term thrills, but when we allow experiences that build something within us. Real dopamine is not just pleasure – it is strength and wisdom. It supports us when we persevere, process, and grow.


Real dopamine builds resilience. It arises when, in the midst of great and perhaps overwhelming emotions, we don’t collapse, but instead learn to hold and manage them. When we don’t flee – neither outward into distraction nor inward into numbness. It grows when we don’t give up on ourselves, even when the world is raging.


That doesn’t mean having no fear. It means: staying in connection despite fear – with yourself, with others, with life. And that’s not a quick thrill, but a deep, sustainable source of strength. It doesn’t just carry us through adventure – it makes us capable of beginning one at all.



The Decision


Odysseus didn’t want to go. But he had to – and the reward was greater than his fear: a life worth living. And maybe that’s the invitation for you too: not to flee, not to numb yourself, not to scroll, not to chase the next quick hit – but to dare to take the first step into discomfort. Not out of duty, but because a fulfilling life does not come from safety.


Whether you like it or not, life has already called you. And in that lies the true reward: not in avoiding the challenge, but in learning the skills that each situation demands from us. That is the real reward system – one that strengthens life, not weakens it. One that nurtures inner growth, competence, and self-trust, instead of making us dependent on external validation or artificial stimulation.

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