July 13, 2013

The hedonic treadmill is not a machine you want to get on or stay on. What is this thing and what can you do to avoid it?

2 thoughts on “July 13, 2013”

  1. Thomas Graham says:

    The hedonic treadmill is when a person who has made a lot of progress in their life goals, yet they are no happier after accomplishing the goals than they were before them. This happens a lot with money. People believe that when they make more money they will magically become happier. This is not what money does. Because of the expectations people have for money they are often no happier after they get that big pay rise they have been working so hard for.

  2. Mike Finley says:

    Well said, Thomas. Let’s recap. Human beings tend to adapt to whatever comes into their lives. We get the new car we have always wanted, but soon after that initial high, we find ourselves no happier than before we bought the new and fabulous car. This can cause many people to think they got the wrong thing, which leads them into finding the bigger, better new thing that will provide them happiness. Just as Thomas stated, this can also apply to money. You get the big raise and now you think life will be much better. Sadly, our wants quickly rise to equal the new paycheck and we are no happier than before. We start reaching for a BIGGER new paycheck to “fix” our problem.

    More “stuff” and more money will not make you happier! Once a person comes to terms with that statement, they are getting closer to getting off the hedonic treadmill. How? First, realize happiness comes from within. There is NOTHING outside of you that will bring inner peace and true happiness to your life. Two, be grateful for what you have. The person who is satisfied with what they have, has it all. It really is that simple. More is not better. Bigger is not better and richer is not better. When you can make these statements with conviction you will be ready to step off that treadmill and get on the path toward finding true happiness.

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