The hedonic treadmill | why the pursuit of happiness is nothing but BS

In the relentless pursuit of happiness, many of us find ourselves on what psychologists call the “hedonic treadmill”. This metaphorical treadmill suggests that despite our efforts to achieve happiness through external circumstances, we often return to a relatively stable level of well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of the hedonic treadmill, understand its implications, and discuss strategies to step off this seemingly endless loop.

The Hedonic Treadmill

The hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, refers to the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events in their lives. This concept suggests that our baseline level of well-being remains relatively constant over time, regardless of external factors such as wealth, achievements, or life changes.

Backed by this experiment

Several years back, there were some researchers that collected thousands of ratings from people from all ages, genders, economic statuses, etc. What the researchers found was that pretty much everyone wrote “7” on a scale from 1–10. After following the experiment, they found out, that catastrophic events lowered the score (which was not suprising) but after some time it always returns to a 7. The same happened with extremely positive events, such as marriage, a new job or winning lots of money.

This fascinated researchers. It seems like everybody is pretty much happy with their life most of the time, but never (or rarely) satisfied, at least not for more than a few months. Then the score settles back in predictably around a seven. If you live your life chasing your imagined ten, thinking: “if I had just this and that, then I would be completely satisfied.”, congrats you are running on the hedonic treadmill.

And it is not really your fault. Your mind plays this trick on you letting you believe, that only this one or two things are missing you from achieveing a lifetime of happiness. That is not how the hedonic treadmill works. If you know how a treadmill works, then you know, that the faster you run, the faster you have to run (maintain a higher speed) in order to keep running. With more temporal joy, that eventually adapts to be your new “status quo”, the more you have to keep up your standards to be at a seven.

The Pursuit of External Pleasures

Many of us fall into the trap of believing that external circumstances — be it a pay raise, a new possession, or a significant life event — will bring lasting happiness. However, the hedonic treadmill suggests that the initial boost in happiness derived from such changes is always temporary.

As we adapt to these new circumstances, the initial surge of joy fades, and we find ourselves back on the treadmill, seeking the next external source of pleasure. This is basically a permutation of The Blue dot effect.

Learn more about The Blue dot effect: https://medium.com/@rogusblogus/the-blue-dot-effect-how-perception-warps-in-the-face-of-prevalence-667a110c2b11

Happiness as a value

The blue dot effect is everywhere and it changes our perceptions and judgements. Everything adapts and changes into our slight discomfort. Reason for that might be our biology. Happiness is a value of the modern world. Think back a few hundred or thousand years ago. The main value back then was survival. Followed by power, influence and possession that came eventually; happiness however was implemented as a value with the era of science and technology. Once humanity improved lifespan and health, the next thing was to improve happiness, mainly by reducing pain.

The problem is that pain can not be reduced or eliminated out of our lives. To experience pain is to experience life itself. Anticipating pain is deep in our biology to beware of dangers such as animals back in cavemen years. Trying to reduce pain makes us only more succeptible to experience pain. It makes us see dangers where there aren´t any. Trying to get rid of pain is trying to eliminate all emotions. We must know the bad to know what is good otherwise everything is just regular, which only drives or dopamine- searching overstimulated brains mad!

Implications for Sustainable Happiness

Understanding the hedonic treadmill has profound implications for our pursuit of sustainable happiness. It challenges the notion that material wealth or external achievements alone can provide endless happiness. Instead, it encourages us to explore alternative paths to well-being that are less reliant on external factors.

Strategies to step off the Treadmill

Cultivate Gratitude:

• Practice gratitude by regularly acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life. This can shift your focus from what you lack to what you have, fostering a sense of contentment.

Mindfulness and Presence:

• Embrace mindfulness to stay present in the moment. Rather than constantly chasing future goals, appreciate and engage fully in the experiences of today. Mindfulness can break the cycle of always seeking the next source of pleasure.

Invest in Relationships:

• Prioritize and nurture meaningful relationships. Strong social connections have been linked to long-term happiness*. Investing time and energy in building and maintaining relationships can provide a more enduring source of joy.

*find out more about it here: https://medium.com/@rogusblogus/lessons-from-the-longest-study-ever-conducted-the-harvard-study-of-adult-development-707b739c5caf

Set Intrinsic Goals:

• Shift your focus from extrinsic goals (material possessions, external validation) to intrinsic goals (personal growth, meaningful experiences). Intrinsic goals are more likely to contribute to lasting well-being.

Practice Self-Compassion:

• Be kind to yourself. Instead of setting impossibly high standards, practice self-compassion. Understand that setbacks and challenges are a part of life, and treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend.

Engage in Activities That Bring Joy:

• Identify activities that bring you genuine joy and fulfillment. Whether it’s a hobby, creative pursuit, or a simple daily ritual, incorporating these activities into your life can contribute to a more sustainable sense of happiness.

Conclusion

Stepping off the hedonic treadmill involves a shift in mindset — an acknowledgment that true happiness is a journey, not a destination. By cultivating gratitude, practicing mindfulness, investing in relationships, setting intrinsic goals, practicing self-compassion, and engaging in joyful activities, we can create a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to well-being. It’s time to break free from the cycle of endless pursuit and embrace a more authentic and enduring happiness.