January 13, 2014

What is the hedonic treadmill? Why should you jump off this crippling device as soon as possible?

2 thoughts on “January 13, 2014”

  1. Alayna Duwa says:

    The hedonic treadmill theory is the relation of money and happiness. So a person thinks as they increase the amount of money they have this will in turn increase their happiness in life and with themselves. You should turn away from this ideal because it certain could have the opposite effect; if you don’t reach the targeted monetary amount then you aren’t happy in life. Which is very untrue, some of the happiest people on the planet have little money at all.

  2. Mike Finley says:

    Well said, Alayna. The hedonic treadmill can be explained using money and it can also be explained as to why “stuff” will never quite be enough. Here is an example.

    You squeeze the budget to buy that “amazing” new car/outfit/home/etc. because you are just sure that life will be better and happier when you do. Does it? No. You adapt to that “amazing” thing. Your endorphins shoot up initially, but soon adapt to the new stimulus as you fall back to where you started psychologically, but not financially. You are no happier, but a lot more broke. Here is where it can get even worse.

    You convince yourself that you just got the wrong “amazing” thing and so you start looking for that “right” car/outfit/home/etc. that will take you to that place called happiness. Guess what? The same thing happens and now you are even more broke AND less happy because of the stress of all that debt you have picked up. You must avoid getting on the hedonic treadmill. How?

    First, understand that “stuff” and that includes money, will not make you happy (once your basic needs are met and a little comfort is acquired more money and more stuff starts to lose its value).

    Trying to find happiness through external means does not work and the sooner you learn that in life, the better off you are going to be. The answers you seek are on the inside, not the outside. More can be learned by reading my book, Financial Happine$$ or Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. Get off that treadmill!

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