Dopamine. The insulting voices come back when I don't have enough dopamine in my day-to-day. Our modern life robs of of dopamine by providing cheap substitute activities that don't provide dopamine. You need dopamine. How to get dopamine in a few ways: - Exercise. (This is #1 ... go for a run, go workout.) - Spending time with those you love. (Win or lose, I love watching my kids play sports ... they enjoy it and I enjoy watching them enjoy it.) - Helping someone beyond yourself. (Go help an elderly neighbor for 2 hrs this Saturday ... it will make your day.) - Solving a problem. Our brains are meant for creativity and for challenges. - Sex with someone you love. (Not masturbation ... sex ... not the same.) - Sunshine (if you live in the North ... if you are in the sunbelt, then more sun isn't value added.) - Nature (if you are in a city and can't enjoy the peace of being in nature every day. ... if you are already on a farm, there is little more to be gained by going for a nature walk.) Things that prevent you from gaining dopamine, mostly because these activities temporarily distract you but don't provide a dopamine boost. - Drinking / weed - Sugar. The modern American diet it making us sad. - Information. We have the world's information at our fingertips. This isn't helping make us happy, just distracting us. - Porn ('they' want to make sex = masturbation. That's far from the truth.) - Video games. (For me, that's a solo activity that I enjoy but recognize that the voices come back right after ... not left "feeling good" after 3 hrs of playing a game.)