Displaying items by tag: self aware

“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.” 

If I only made this much money, then I could afford a house and then I would finally have some consistency in my life. If only I could get promoted, then I could take my family on the trip I promised them. If only I could find the perfect mate and get married, then I would be satisfied and my life would be complete. If only I made more money, then I would finally be happy.

The above “if only” scenarios are good examples of the hedonic treadmill that humans tend to get stuck running on. According to a Positive Psychology article, hedonic adaptation is the theory in which people generally return to an original state of happiness after something they thought was going to create an eternal sense of joy for them fails to deliver. It becomes hedonic adaptation.