I Was Energy-Drained — Then This Mindset Shift Changed Everything!

I was feeling drained, struggling to keep my momentum while writing my book. To push through, I kept picturing the life I’d enjoy after it became a success—but the spark never lasted. Then I made one small shift: instead of imagining what I might gain, I vividly pictured my book changing people’s lives—sparking real transformation through detailed stories and insights. The difference was instant. A surge of energy rushed in. The meaning from my work gives me energy to sustain itself—and science has a fascinating explanation for why this works.


Both neuroscience and psychology have repeatedly found that focusing on helping others (rather than on personal gain) significantly boosts energy, motivation, and even health.

Here’s why:

1. Altruism activates the brain’s reward system

  • Dopamine from Purpose, Not Just Reward: When you think about making a positive impact, your brain releases dopamine in anticipation of a meaningful outcome, not just a personal gain.

  • When you think about helping others, your brain releases dopamine (pleasure/motivation), oxytocin(bonding/trust), and endorphins (natural painkillers). This is called the “helper’s high”, a phenomenon documented in functional MRI studies. These chemicals don’t just make you feel good — they increase alertness, focus, and resilience.

2. Purpose fuels the brain’s energy networks

  • “Purpose-based” motivation outperforms “self-gain” motivation

    • Unlike dopamine from self-centered rewards (which can fade quickly when you get the desired result), prosocial dopamine tends to be more sustaining because it’s tied to purpose or living direction.

      Research by David Yeager & Carol Dweck (2014) shows that when people connect their work to a purpose beyond themselves (e.g., “I’m writing this book to improve people’s lives”), they sustain effort longer and recover faster from setbacks.

    • In contrast, “self-gain” motivation (e.g., “I’m writing this book to make money”) often produces shorter bursts of effort and more burnout.

  • Researchers like Viktor Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning) and contemporary neuroscientists have shown that meaning itself is an energy source. In neuroscience terms, meaning reduces “decision fatigue” because your actions have a clear, compelling direction.

3. Stress transforms into resilience

  • Thinking about what you can get triggers a scarcity mindset, activating the amygdala (stress/fear center).

  • Thinking about how you can help others activates circuits related to connection and creativity, reducing cortisol (stress hormone) and increasing heart-rate variability — a biomarker of emotional resilience.

  • Studies on “self-transcendent emotions” (awe, compassion, gratitude) show they can reduce stress-related brain activity(amygdala response) and improve problem-solving and persistence.

4. You tap into the “Broaden-and-Build” effect

  • Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson found that positive emotions (like compassion, inspiration, gratitude) broaden your awareness and make you more resourceful.

  • This builds skills, networks, and opportunities over time — creating a compounding effect that’s hard to match when focused solely on personal gain.


    The paradox of energy: giving vs. conserving

    • Studies in positive psychology (e.g., Adam Grant’s work in Give and Take) show that giving energy through contribution actually increases perceived vitality.

    • This is partly because it shifts attention away from your own limitations or discomfort and toward possibilities and solutions — a state associated with higher prefrontal cortex activation.

    Flow state connection

    • Purpose-driven action more easily triggers flow (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s research).

    • In flow, the brain balances dopamine, norepinephrine, and endorphins — resulting in inexhaustible-feeling energyand a sense of timeless engagement.

In short:
When your mind shifts from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?”, your biology switches from a defensive survival mode to an expansive creation mode.
That’s why thinking of your book’s impact on people’s lives naturally gives you more energy than thinking about your own rewards — your brain is wired to thrive on purpose.

Linh Nguyen