Missed last week’s insights on How Elite Founders Train Their Brains for Impossible Growth? Here’s the link to catch up before diving into this week’s edition.

Why Happiness Feels Elusive

During university, my nickname was Lamentino, which in Italian means “whiny.” Back then, I thought that was just who I was. I always found myself complaining about things I didn’t like or couldn’t control. It felt like an ingrained part of me—so much so that I didn’t question it.

At the same time, I would read about great entrepreneurs—people like Bill Gates—being described as always happy and positive. I saw them with a sense of detachment, thinking “Lucky them, I could never be like that”. Growing up in Italy, surrounded by a culture where many people complain and view the future pessimistically, I thought negativity was just part of my DNA.

It wasn’t until I began studying the brain that I realized two profound truths:

1. I didn’t have to keep thinking or feeling this way.

2. My belief that I had “always” been negative wasn’t even true—it was just a story I’d been telling myself.

Later in this article, I’ll share the exact steps I took to uncover where my mindset started to shift and how I rewired my thoughts to align with a happier, more productive outlook. But first, let’s explore why negativity feels so dominant in the first place.

Why Do We Get Stressed and Attached to Negative Feelings?

Our tendency to dwell on negative emotions isn’t just a quirk; it’s rooted in evolution. Negativity bias—the psychological tendency to focus on bad experiences more than good ones—helped our ancestors survive. Recognizing threats like predators or scarce resources was critical for staying alive.

The problem intensifies when you combine negativity bias with modern-day overstimulation. According to a study published in Psychological Science, negative emotions are processed more rapidly by the brain than positive ones, creating a “stickier” impact on our memory and decision-making.

When you're constantly exposed to stressors—whether it's doom-scrolling negative news, navigating investor meetings, or handling team conflicts—your brain's threat detection center (the amygdala) kicks into high gear. This triggers a flood of cortisol, your primary stress hormone.

Too much cortisol over time can actually damage your brain's memory center (the hippocampus), which doesn't just affect your ability to remember things—it literally diminishes your capacity to experience joy and form positive memories. This is why many high-performers find themselves achieving goals but feeling surprisingly empty afterward.

The Mismatch Between Our Brain and Modern Life

Our brains evolved for a world of simplicity, where survival depended on clear signals like day and night or feast and famine. Fast forward to today, and our environments couldn’t be more different. Digital distractions, constant notifications, and endless media streams have rewired our dopamine pathways, leaving us overstimulated and unfulfilled.

The latest numbers for screentime found that the average person spent 7 hours and 4 minutes daily on screens in 2023, with much of this time spent multitasking across apps and devices.

This constant engagement with screens not only fragments focus but also floods the brain with dopamine, creating a feedback loop of short-term gratification and long-term dissatisfaction. Over time, this leads to decision fatigue, anxiety, and a diminished capacity for deep thinking.

For me, this became even more apparent when I began exploring the possibility that I had undiagnosed ADHD. Growing up, I often felt like I was the problem—that I wasn’t performing well enough, that my distractions and inefficiencies were personal failures. But as I learned more, I realized that much of the struggle came from the environment itself.

The solution lies in consciously designing your surroundings to reduce overstimulation and reclaim your focus. Small changes, like scheduling focused work blocks, limiting exposure to notifications, or engaging in analog activities like reading or journaling, can help reset your brain’s reward system and restore balance.

The Role of Diet in Mental and Emotional Stability

Happiness isn’t just about mindset—it’s deeply connected to what you eat. Over 90% of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness, is produced in the gut. In previous articles we discussed how diets high in sugar, processed foods, and unhealthy fats disrupt this production, destabilizing mood and cognitive function.

Science is now clear that individuals who consume ultra-processed foods are 51% more likely to develop depression. Conversely, diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fibers and fermented foods support gut microbiota, boosting serotonin production and improving mood.

By prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods, you can dramatically improve your emotional resilience. Small changes, like swapping sugary snacks for nuts or adding leafy greens to meals, can make an immediate impact.

Rewiring the Mind: Biological and Mental Strategies

Our brains have an extraordinary ability to adapt and change—a concept known as neuroplasticity. This adaptability is the foundation of personal growth. It means that no matter your age or current habits, your brain can form new neural connections, allowing you to shift negative thought patterns and build habits that foster happiness.

However, there is one big challenge here. The negativity bias we discussed earlier is just a symptom of a deeper issue: the internal battle between your Ego and your higher Self intelligence. This battle determines whether you remain trapped in negativity or access the full potential of your neuroplasticity. Let me explain and connect the dots between ancient wisdom and science, something I only recently managed to master and very few people are actually able to properly explain.

The Three-Brain Symphony

Your brain is NOT your Mind. Your brain is the organ with the highest number of neurons in your body, but it's not your only intelligence center.

We actually have (if you define it by the number of neurons) three distinct neural networks in our body:

• The cranial brain (86 billion neurons) - our cognitive processing center

• The heart brain (40,000 neurons) - influences emotions and intuitive decision-making

• The gut brain (100 million neurons) - affects mood and even executive function

Each of these "brains" communicates with the others through neural pathways, hormones, and energetic fields. When these systems work in harmony, we experience clarity and emotional balance. But during stress and burnout—like when we're doom-scrolling or overstimulated by digital inputs—this communication breaks down, creating what scientists call "incoherence."

Mind vs. mind: The Consciousness Distinction

What ancient traditions have known for millennia, science is now beginning to confirm: consciousness (what I call "Mind" with a capital M) extends beyond our physical brain. Quantum biology is revealing how our thoughts and focus literally reshape our neural pathways and biochemistry.

When we live disconnected from this broader intelligence system, we allow our rational brain and its ego-driven patterns to become the "driver of the bus." This keeps us stuck in self-destructive behaviors—like the constant complaining I mentioned at the beginning of this article—despite intellectually knowing better.

The key breakthrough comes when we stop identifying exclusively with the chatter of our rational mind and begin integrating all three neural networks. This shift allows us to step out of the Ego's limitation and tap into our full intelligence system. This integration is what many traditions call "heart-centered coherence"—aligning the electromagnetic frequencies of your brain with those of your heart. Science has confirmed that your heart generates an electromagnetic field 60 times stronger than your brain, creating a bridge between your physical needs and higher mental functions.

Just as the right nutrition supports gut-brain health (as we discussed earlier), mental practices support this three-brain integration. Research shows that mindfulness practices, such as meditation, can increase gray matter density in the brain's prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation. Similarly, gratitude practices increase dopamine and serotonin levels, creating a positive feedback loop that reinforces happiness.

Beyond mental exercises, quantum biology offers a fascinating perspective. The act of focusing on a desired outcome influences your brain chemistry and primes your body for change. This isn't just philosophy—it's measurable, with studies demonstrating how visualization practices lead to enhanced mental and physical performance. (I made a first intro to quantum biology in this article, but happy to hear from you if you want to go even deeper 😉)

Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

Long before modern psychology and neuroscience, ancient cultures explored the foundations of happiness through the same three-brain model we're now rediscovering. They viewed the mind not just as a function of the brain but as something interconnected with the heart, body, and even the cosmos.

The heart-centered breathing technique mentioned above has roots in practices that are thousands of years old. These traditions understood intuitively what quantum biology is now confirming: our bodies function as integrated energy systems rather than isolated mechanical parts.

In Helgoland, Carlo Rovelli explores how quantum entanglement—the idea that particles are interconnected regardless of distance—offers a scientific framework for understanding how human thoughts and actions influence one another in ways traditional science hasn't been able to explain.

(I'm sure you must be thinking this is too far for science to connect to the realm of the Mind and psychology. But there is a huge emerging field proving this connection, and if you're interested, I'd be happy to dedicate an entire article to this topic alone.)

This convergence between ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science suggests that happiness isn't just an individual pursuit; it's influenced by our relationships, environment, and sense of purpose. By blending timeless practices with modern tools, we can tap into a deeper, more sustainable form of happiness that transcends the fleeting highs of achievement or external validation that we often chase as founders.

A Science-Backed Blueprint for Happiness

Happiness isn't a fixed trait or a destination—it's a skill you can actively cultivate through consistent practice and intentional habits. By understanding your brain's negativity bias, managing digital distractions, nourishing your body with the right diet, integrating your three-brain intelligence, and adopting practices grounded in both ancient wisdom and modern science, you can transform how you think, feel, and lead.

For founders especially, this integrated approach to happiness offers more than just personal wellbeing—it directly impacts your leadership effectiveness and company culture. When you operate from a place of three-brain coherence rather than ego-driven reactivity, your decision-making improves, your resilience deepens, and your ability to inspire others expands.

I've witnessed this transformation in my own life, moving from being the "whiny" Lamentino to someone who navigates challenges with genuine optimism. The journey wasn't about forcing positivity but about rewiring my neural patterns through consistent practice and aligning my three intelligence centers.

This is just the beginning. In the next article, we'll dive deeper into optimizing performance through connection and consciousness expansion—tools that can further enhance your capacity for resilience and joy. For now, take one small step today. Whether it's practicing mindfulness, improving your diet, or reframing a challenge, every action counts in building your personal blueprint for happiness.