hedonic treadmill - 1

I came across this new term - the ‘Hedonic Treadmill’.

Commonly known as the ‘Hedonic Adaptation‘, it’s this psychological concept where humans tend to return to a stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative life events.

This phenomenon suggests that while significant achievements or setbacks may temporarily affect happiness, individuals eventually adapt and revert to their baseline emotional state.

There are three key features of the hedonic treadmill:

• Baseline Happiness: People have a relatively constant "set point" of happiness, which they return to over time, regardless of external circumstances.
  

• Adaptation: Positive events (e.g., winning the lottery, promotions) or negative events (e.g., loss, setbacks) cause temporary emotional changes.
  
  However, these effects diminish as individuals adapt to their new circumstances.
  

• Cycle of Desire: The treadmill metaphor reflects how individuals continuously pursue new goals or possessions, believing they will bring lasting happiness.
  
  However, once achieved, the satisfaction fades, prompting the pursuit of new desires.

The last part is really where it got me. The Cycle of Desire.

‘What are we even doing this for?‘
‘Why do these things in the first place?‘

These questions pop up when we finally achieve that one thing we put all our effort into, only to realise that it didn’t feel as good as we had imagined. 😔

And rather, as a consequence, we immediately set out to achieve a bigger (or) another goal, hoping that would bring us the peace and happiness we hoped for.

The hedonic treadmill explains why wealth, status, or material possessions often fail to produce sustained happiness.

It highlights the human resilience — the ability of us humans to recover emotionally from adversity.

But it can also lead to dissatisfaction if we are constantly chasing fleeting pleasures, without addressing a deeper source of fulfillment.

To simplify it -

Have a why to the what.

One key aspect of the hedonic treadmill, is change.

The constant shifting of goals and values in alignment with recent situations and experiences.

For me as I’ve observed, this cycle happens every 6 months.

(note: This was before I even knew this was a scientific concept in existence)

This cycle occurs because, as humans, we tend to adapt to achievements or changes in circumstances, leading us to pursue new goals once the initial excitement fades.

With every goal you achieve, you ride on that short-lived dopamine high before it falls back to baseline, and you are off chasing the next one.

Imagine this cycle goes on forever.

Yes, you will accomplish some amazing things, but what was it all for?

If it meant that every goal you had in mind, some of them years in the making, was all for a temporary high of some chemical in your brain…

How long before you ask yourself ‘Why am I doing this in the first place?‘

Money does not bring me happiness; it is a means to an end.

Status and possessions do not bring me peace. It brings me comfort, but never peace.

You can start a business, grind, hustle, hit $10K months, and make millions.

But what’s the point if you don’t get to spend it with the people you love?

I mean think about it -

We sacrifice our time now to make money,

so that we can eventually trade it for more time.

???

A year ago, I was all up in grind culture. Hustle, hustle, hustle.

Yes, focus on yourself, just start and don’t stop, and find the highest leverage opportunities to fast track your way to success blah blah blah.

But now, after almost two cycles on my treadmill, I have learned and grown.

But now I have one more clause to add.

Nothing is worth your mental peace.

No tradeoff is worth it. No amount of money or success will make things better.

“Yes but at least I can cry in my Ferrari.“

Go ahead. If it works, I’m happy for you.

Not for me, sire. 🙆‍♂️