Sharada Natarajan
Hedonic Treadmill- An ironically unusual euphemism for humankind’s persistent preoccupation with happiness.
The renewed continuously search for increased levels of happiness and the invariable adaptation to new-found happiness is a psychological phenomenon termed Hedonic Adaptation or Hedonic Treadmill.
We aim at obtaining a certain thing, which we presume will bring more happiness and joy. Still, once we get it, we adapt to the newfound happiness in a short period, and the mind is all over again exploring other avenues to prolong that ephemeral honeymoon with happiness. The cycle repeats itself as we are caught in an eternal loop of achievement and adaptation. The more a person achieves, the more easily and quickly he or she adapts to it.
The fundamental quest for happiness lies in the human psyche, and the life of a human being is woven around the need to feel happy; naturally so, since it assumes importance as the major contributing factor to one’s overall well-being of the mind and body. This segment of human life has been analysed threadbare, with everyone trying to grapple with its fleeting nature.
With no universal and unanimous agenda available, happiness becomes a personalised individual affair, with the idea of happiness and the ways to achieve it remaining within the individual’s range of perspectives and resources.
There is a baseline. A resting point for happiness. And the obsession is to experience increased levels by incessantly setting a goal next and above the current one. Once we attain the goal, we adapt to success in a short time, the euphoria dilutes, and we find ourselves back at the baseline.
To stop this chase, to step down the Hedonic Treadmill, we need to detach a solid level wherein the happiness remains trapped.
The core factors believed to contribute to one’s happiness are money, health and relationships. On the periphery lie entertainment, travel, hobbies, etc., but all these are dependent on the first three. All the above, individually or collectively do not abide by a person in a permanent state of happiness. It is a continuous human activity. The present chasing the future in the hope the booster shot to happiness lies there.
Money, being the fundamental requirement, tops the list. But it is a misconception that increased inflow of money and its related opulence can keep the elation of abundance alive and fresh for long. Up to a certain level, money has a positive correlation with one’s happiness quotient, but there is always a cutoff limit – and beyond that, it turns out to be the bedrock of stress and anxiety.
According to Hedonic Adaptation theory, more and more money make expectations and desires rise in tandem, with no tangible sustainability to one’s levels of happiness.
Daniel Kahneman, psychologist and economist and Nobel prize winner says, “More money does not necessarily buy more happiness. Happiness and income are correlated only up to a level”.
Once our money inflow is sufficient to afford a comfortable lifestyle, catering to the necessities and some luxuries, we are said to reach a point of Diminishing Returns. Beyond this point of Diminishing Returns, chasing more money will become a self-defeating exercise.
Getting to know our monetary point of Diminishing Returns will help us to restrict our consumption and shift our focus onto long-term savings; thus enabling us to enjoy the benefits of financial security and resilience without working in a frenzy to meet chimerical happiness deadlines. Instead of desiring after a lavish lifestyle, a lively approach to life and its experiences will go a long way in taking one off the Hedonic Treadmill.
“We act as though comfort and luxury are the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about” – Charles Kingsley
Next to money, health is paramount to one’s happiness. Unlike money, where the tracking and controlling is intangible and esoteric, health offers an easier management regimen, unless one is bothered by the akrasia-the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will.
The human body has performance requirements like proper food, exercise and rest and if they are met, one can establish a firm grip on health, contributing to a stabilised happiness level not disturbed by downside factors.
The joie de vivre that can be found in a family where the members respect and love each other, keeps the happiness level consistent. Harmonious coexistence with the family and society lends flavour to life, leaves a stabilising influence on one’s happiness level and frees one from the obsession with Hedonic Treadmill.
All said spirituality recommends an attitude of acceptance and contentment for a secure state of peace and happiness. Achieving a state of sustained joy and happiness is always a challenge in a materialistic atmosphere, but the approach through spiritual practices is said to be much more well-established, the onus being laid on contentment.
“Happiness for me is when you can feel good about your life and what you have, and at the same time, you feel excited and motivated to improve it without decreasing your gratitude for it – Wilson Kanadi.
