HARMONYsecurity arm of a mining company. The company is intent on exploit-
ing the natural resources of a moon called Pandora, which is covered
by undisturbed forests and populated by the Na’vi, a race of humanoids
who live in harmony with nature. The Na’vi worship a mother goddess
called Eywa. It’s a classic example of dopamine versus H&N.
To maximize the resources they can dig up, the mining company
plans to destroy the sacred Tree of Souls, which is in their way. Appalled
at the plan, Jake rejects his dopaminergic background, joins the H&N
Na’vi, and develops close, affiliative relationships with members of the
tribe. Combining his dopaminergic skills with his newly acquired ability
to work together with the Na’vi, he organizes them and leads them to
victory against the security forces of the mining company. In the end,
with the help of the Tree of Souls, Jake becomes one of the Na’vi and
achieves balance.
The classic 1980s movie Trading Places takes us to a place of bal-
ance from the opposite direction. Billy Ray Valentine is an irresponsible
homeless man. He’s lazy, indulgent, and doesn’t give any thought for
the future. He becomes the subject of an experiment in which his life is
swapped with that of a successful commodities trader, who is his mirror
image. As Billy Ray accumulates wealth, he rejects his former carefree
lifestyle and becomes responsible. In one scene he invites a group of old
friends to a party at his mansion and is uncharacteristically upset when
they vomit on his Persian rug. In the end he participates in an elabo-
rately planned scheme that makes him rich, and returns him to a life of
leisure, but with a new set of capabilities.
How can the ordinary person find balance? It’s unlikely that any of
us will forsake the modern world to live with a clan of tree-worshipers.
We have to find balance in other ways. Dopamine alone will never sat-
isfy us. It can’t provide satisfaction any more than a hammer can turn
a screw. But it’s constantly promising us that satisfaction is right around
the corner: one more donut, one more promotion, one more conquest.
How do we get off the treadmill? It’s not easy, but there are ways.