Why We Will Always Want More!
The cycle of happiness!
In life, we frequently go through change. Whether it be through getting your dream job, buying your first home, or becoming a parent.
These changes inadvertently bring us joy and happiness.
We feel a sense of achievement; a sense of pride; an elevated mental state.
But how long does this last?
I am an Engineer, working in the job of my dreams. Financially stable, yet working ever harder to improve in my field. Did landing my dream job deliver me happiness? Yes, it did…for a few months.
However, having settled in, it became normal. My new norm. My happiness levels started to stabilise and I was soon hunting for a new goal; a new ambition. A new car?
I began the journey.
Working the extra hours, saving as much money as possible and sure enough, I was able to afford the perfect car.
Fast-forward a few months. The novelty had soon worn off and again, I was on the hunt. What next?
Although you may be in an improved mental state by achieving your ambitions, which overall, will elevate your happiness, this elevated state will become the new norm.
Your mind will adapt to this new form of life that you have created and slowly, your level of happiness will stabilise.
Hedonic treadmill, also known as Hedonic adaptation is the observed tendency for us humans to return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite recent positive or negative events or life changes. Stephanie Rosenbloom
You may be thinking to yourself,
Will I ever be happy?
The simple answer is no.
If the answer for this were to be yes; if we were completely satisfied by the life that we live, the evolution of mankind as we know it would never have been possible.
We periodically feel happy and content, but once that has worn off, we always want more!
And that’s the trouble with us humans.
If I were to ask you; What do you want in life? I’m sure, many of the responses I get would be along the lines of wanting bigger homes, or nicer cars.
If I then came back to you in 5 years and asked the same question, I would unsurprisingly find additional items on your list.
What you have now will never be enough!
Eventually, we shift our focus. We create or try something new because we strive to be happier than we are now.
Whether that be to start a business or as simple as taking up a new sport.
Therefore, the happiness that we all yearn for is interlinked with self-development. To achieve happiness, we strive to develop ourselves to achieve our ambitions.
The happiness we achieve from success will soon wear off and once again, we will find something else to elevate ourselves back to a higher state; The cycle continues.
And so the ‘Hedonic Treadmill’ is just that.
To stay at an elevated level of happiness, you must achieve more success. Whether that be monetary, or from the recognition of others.
The driving factor is the fear of failure. Failure brings out the survival instinct innate to humans, and this is the reason we will never be content with what we have.
It doesn’t mean that you’re not happy. But more that you will not be satisfied.
The pursuit of happiness is never-ending, and this is what will forever drive mankind to achieve even greater heights.
