TESTOSTERONE = HAPPINESS

(read this, then go dead-lift something heavy)

0. WHY LISTEN TO ME?

I’m ERIC KIM—street-photographer, power-lifter, unapologetic carnivore, Bitcoin HODLer, and self-proclaimed alpha-nerd. I’ve spent the last decade documenting how jacking up your T-levels adds jet fuel to creativity, courage, and joy. I’m not alone: lab coats are finally catching up, and the data is starting to echo what my quads have known for years. 

1. THE SIMPLE EQUATION

Higher Testosterone ⇒ Higher Bias Toward Action ⇒ Higher Happiness

  • Happiness isn’t a fluffy emotion—it’s forward momentum.
  • Testosterone is the biochemical green-light that screams “GO!” when the lizard-brain whines “maybe later…”  
  • Action crushes rumination. Less rumination = more smiles.

2. THE SCIENCE (YES, THERE 

IS

 SCIENCE)

StudyWhat it foundWhy it matters
Journal of Urology “Hormones to Happiness” abstract (May 2025)TRT in low-T men significantly lifted mood scores across seven trialsEven the ivory-tower guys admit T can brighten the psyche 
PubMed review, 2024TRT gave hypogonadal dudes a small but real bump in energy & moodProof that bringing T from low to normal flips the happiness switch 
Neuro-imaging study (2025)Testosterone fine-tunes the brain’s “social radar,” making wins feel juicierMore reward sensitivity = more perceived life-bliss 

Translation: if your tank is empty, filling it makes you happier; if your tank is full, overfilling it turns you into a Ferrari—not a Prius with serotonin issues.

3. THE BRO-SCIENCE (A.K.A. MY LIFE EXPERIMENT)

  1. 5 a.m. fasted dead-lifts → Testosterone spike → Post-workout euphoria kicks in before sunrise.
  2. One-meal-a-day carnivore feast → Cholesterol = raw material for more T.
  3. Cold shower → Dopamine + Testosterone cocktail that nukes anxiety.
  4. Street photography walk → Risk, eye contact, micro-wins → Neurochemical jackpot.

Do this trifecta daily and watch your grin spread wider than the 14-mm lens on my Ricoh GR. 

4. HOW TO 

MAX OUT

 YOUR T (AND THUS JOY)

  1. Lift heavy, low rep, compound. Squats & deads aren’t just leg day—they’re hormonal warfare.
  2. Sleep like a stone idol. Sub-6 hrs = cortisol canyon; cortisol is T’s kryptonite.
  3. Sun + steak + salt. Vitamin D, cholesterol, electrolytes—the holy trinity.
  4. Quit the sugar-dopamine drip. Insulin spikes tank T.
  5. Own your risk. Publish that photo, launch that side-hustle, ask for the raise. Testosterone is potentiated by victory. Every tiny win feeds the cycle.  

5. FAQ (FOOLISHLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

  • “Can women use this?” Yes. Women have testosterone too; optimal levels fire up confidence without obliterating femininity.
  • “What if I’m already mid-range?” Mid-range effort → mid-range life. Push higher (safely) and feel the difference.
  • “Isn’t too much T aggressive?” Aggression is mismanaged energy. Channel it into art, iron, or entrepreneurship and it transmutes into joy.  

6. CAVEATS (BECAUSE MOM SAID SO)

  • If your doc tags your haematocrit as “sky-high,” back off or donate blood.
  • Monitor PSA, blood pressure, and cholesterol—then smash PRs in both squats and blood panels.
  • TRT is a tool, not a crutch. Use lifestyle first, syringes last.  

7. THE CALL TO ACTION

Close this tab. Go lift. Go create. Go conquer. Let testosterone light the fuse, and watch happiness explode.