1 Year of Supernormal Stimulus Sobriety

(Starting Today!)

04/20/22

I’ve experimented with all kinds of sobriety. I don’t watch pornography or use social media. For stretches of time, I have been off caffeine, sugar, flour, processed junk food, and weed (and let me tell you…weed is ABSOLUTELY addictive. But that’s a whole ‘nother topic). I rarely watch TV or movies. But I’ve never cut out all of my vices at once.

I feel that I’m wired to seek out pleasure (as most of us are). But when I spike my receptors with supernormal stimuli, I have to pay for it. My ability to experience pleasure is dulled over time. And like many, my favorite drug is “MORE.” It’s a never-ending hamster wheel situation.

I want to know what it’s like to be off of everything.

What would happen if I reset my system, and allowed my body to work how it’s supposed to, without digital stimulants, addictive drugs, and nutritionally-useless processed “foods” that make the brain respond like it just got a hit of heroin?

Would I become a human pleasure-center? Free to fully absorb all of the beauty held in a pile of dog poop, the noise of traffic, or the line at the DMV? How will I know if I don’t try?

For one year, I will:

Read books

Make art

Build stuff

Work (to meet minimalist needs)

Help others

Play music

Enjoy the outdoors

Cook

Write

Attend performances

Play sports

During this year, I will not do/consume:

Alcohol

Weed and other “drugs”

Coffee & caffeine

Added sugar and artificial sweeteners (whole fruit is fine)

TV & Movies (ok in moderation)

Gambling

Video Games

Flour (including GF flour)

Junky processed foods

Pornography

Social media

Please wish me well! This is probably gonna be weird. I appreciate your support.

Check out this podcast: “Are We All Addicted to Dopamine?” if you’re curious to learn more about how supernormal stimuli affect our brains.