Anticipation of reward

Sharing something I read today that resonated very much. It's authored by James Clear (author of Atomic Habits)

It is the anticipation of reward, not it's fulfilment, that makes us act. The higher the anticipation and/or more lucrative the reward, the greater the will to act. That's the critical role of dopamine in enabling us to strive forward towards our goals.

Science tells us that the reward system that is activated in the brain when you receive a reward is the same as when we anticipate a reward. This is one reason the anticipation of an experience can often feel better than the attainment of it. E.g.Anticipating the promotion vs the feeling after receiving the promotion, or simply planning for a trip vs. going on the trip (for some of us). It's also referred to as the difference between wanting and liking.