As we learned yesterday, the ‘dopamine fast” is the new fad in the tech industry. The purpose? Denying pleasure now to experience greater pleasure later. Deny food. Deny eye contact. Deny Netflix, Twitter, sex. Deny, deny, deny, in the hopes that this form of Silicon Valley asceticism will lead to a heightened rush of whizz-bang chemicals when returning to feasting, drinking, making eye contact, binging Netflix, tweeting, or doing It. (Yes, that “It.”)

But is there any science behind the notion of dopamine fasting? In his article, “Dopamine Fasting is Silicon Valley’s Hot New Trend. Is it Backed by Science?” Sigal Samuel writes,

“Cameron Sepah, a clinical professor of psychiatry at UC San Francisco, popularized dopamine fasting in August when he published a guide to the practice on LinkedIn. ‘Taking a break from behaviors that trigger strong amounts of dopamine release (especially in a repeated fashion) allows our brain to recover and restore itself,’ he wrote.”

Perhaps there is some science behind the practice. Color me unsurprised, though. This is the secret saints have known for millennia. But though this kind of fasting might be good for the body, what is its effect on the spirit, on the soul? Consider this quote by Pope Benedict XVI,

“In our own day, fasting seems to have lost something of its spiritual meaning and has taken on, in a culture characterized by the search for material well-being, a therapeutic value for the care of one’s body. Fasting certainly brings benefits to physical well-being, but for believers, it is, in the first place, a ‘therapy’ to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God.”

Yes, fasting has some physical benefit, but for people of faith, it should turn the heart and mind to the Divine Love. So today, consider:

What dopamine-releasing addiction, habit, or attachment do you turn to over and over again? (Food, sex, booze, porn, shopping, whatever?)
Could fast from that dopamine-laced addiction, habit, or attachment in order to both allow your brain to recover and facilitate your spiritual recovery?
Today commit to a simple fast and take note of how you feel.

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A Word About These Posts

Over the next year, I’m creating a series of connected pieces, each of which will build on the previous posts. It’s a sober stream of consciousness that began with my Waking series. Where will it go? You’ll have to follow along to find out. So, if you’re not already signed up to receive my daily emails, you know what to do. (And while you’re here, consider picking up my books, Coming Clean and The Book of Waking Up.)