A Common Happiness Myth - Understanding The Hedonic Treadmill
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- This video is part of a large public self development experiment that I'm doing on myself to improve reading retention and video presentation. Click here to learn more:- • My Self Development Ex...
There are some important things to realize about happiness and this book, Authentic Happiness, covers these topics in detail (link below).
The two key concepts I've covered in this video are:-
1) The Hedonic Treadmill - A lot of us try and find happiness and long term fulfillment by striving after external things.
There are two main problems with this:
Firstly, as soon as we get the things that we strive for, our expectations increase so that we are constantly looking for that next thing.
Secodly, there's an increasing band of evidence to suggest that, while obtaining stuff we want does give us a temporary hit in pleasure, it doesn't really move the needle in terms of long term happiness. The reason for this is....
2) The Happiness Thermostat - it seems that we all have an inherited set range for happiness. When good or bad things happen to us, our happiness tends to revert back to this set range, which is largely hereditary.
The good news is that there are ways in which we can move the happiness needle within this set range: In other words, we can manufacture happiness in our lives. But it's not from running on the hedonic treadmill.
So what things actually make us happier? Those are the things that I will cover over the coming months in future videos, so stay tuned ;)
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I watched the whole video, and I cannot agree more, although there's a specific financial comfort level, that if you lack it, it can affect your happiness, or at least mine, but I must say that having more doesn't necessarily bring more happiness, it's the people surrounding us and the relationships we have that have the most impact.
Came from Leo's forum. Love the effort put into this!
Fantastic video! Thank you! You are a genius!
Car analogy hit close to home
I have serious doubts about health having no correlation with happiness.
Yeah I know what you mean.
"Health" in general is far too broad. Undoubtedly there are conditions that have a large negative impact on happiness for most people. But the paraplegic study is interesting, and gives us food for thought.
The main point I was trying to make, though, is that chasing superficial things doesn't seen to do much in terms of longer lasting happiness. Having learned this, it's helped me to focus more on things that matter and helped me to cultivate a sense of direction and purpose.
Money allow you to pursue happiness and meaning. But people usually use It to scape sadness and pain
You can't really happy for very long time you will eventually get bored of it
we have to live in the present moment and accept it the key is increase the avg base level of happiness by little things
Bruh
I’m just trying to relax
It seems happiness is related with materials things but I agree happiness is a falacy because even the richest people in the world they still lacking something or meaning they are not 100% happy. So what is happiness indeed.
Funny I was just thinking that I missed my Mercedes. But then again, I sort of don't. I've experienced all kinds of happy times with and without the car. And I had some bad days specifically because of the car.
Can't the argument be made that one baseline can be higher or lower than another? For example, if someone has a set baseline of happiness before losing their limbs, couldn't that baseline still be higher than their baseline after they lose their limbs? Hopefully this made sense.
Did you ever get around to sharing the permanent happiness adding events?
There's adaption but the pain or the happiness remains not extremely high but a way level..
thanks for the great video, watched it for a University class to understand better
whats the solution then to this problem?
good
Great video, very concise and well-thought. Thank you for taking the time to do this, respect!
I didn't know that the specific term was Hedonic Treadmill. However i did attend a relationship related seminar last year held by a psychologist and she did mention about this concept and she did mention material stuff doesn't get us long lasting happiness, good relationship does.
I personally went through the example of the dream car example that you perfectly acted out. :p
The thermostat for happiness is an interesting concept. I'll keep that in mind.
By the way, i love how you put those key points beside your head when you talk to us. And sad things in RED coloured words. It makes sure that both our visual and auditory pathways are paying attention to you. :)
I can't wait to listen to what we can do to make sure we get happier. ^_^
Been looking this up today, You laid it out better than any I have found.
can this phenomenon influence family relations in a tragic manner? moreover, can it be viewed as a stimulating factor for an increase in separation of families?And if the answer is yes for both of the questions, how to resolve the issue in either case?
Tanx
Great video man! You seem well informed and are great at teaching the concept!
Good video. Greetings from Holland
The whole theory fell down for me when you used buying a home as an example.
Buying our first home makes us happier every day. Watching our daughter grow in it, building memories together and day by day seeing the mortgage being paid down gives us a deeper sense of financial security. A car on the other hand is a perfect example.