If all you cared about were absolute levels, you’d be happy living as an unproductive hobo – your rubber shoes and television set would keep you happy and occupied today, tomorrow, and until you died. The material standard of living of a homeless person in modern-day Manhattan is several dozens of times higher than the wealthiest of kings ten thousand years ago. Our material standard of living is several hundreds of times greater than just five thousand years ago. I guarantee you’d become a social parasite. That all you cared about were absolute levels. The happiness system is thus hypothesized to reflect changes in circumstances rather than the overall desirability of the circumstances themselves.” Thus, resources remain available to deal with novel stimuli, which are most likely to require immediate attention. “Automatic habituation is adaptive because it allows constant stimuli to fade into the background. Yes, as we get more famous, more powerful, more beautiful, and more wealthy we get happier but much less than we’d expect – much less than we’d hope. For a few days, maybe even a few weeks, you’re living in wonderland. Because once you do, everything will change.īeing hardworking, you get that promotion. More than anything else, you want to get promoted. You’re happy.īut then you notice your neighbor’s car – a shiny $35,000 Lexus. Because once you do, everything will change – you’ll be able to replace your 10-year-old car, buy new clothes for your wife, take your kids on vacation.īeing hard-working, you get that promotion. Humans are remarkably adaptable – how else would we have taken over the whole world? The problem with adaptation. Many feel almost as good within a few months.
But don’t negate your ability to adapt.Īfter a few years, many paraplegics feel almost as good as they did before being disabled.
No doubt, you’d have had a happier life if you hadn’t been paralyzed. You’ll stop dreaming of fame and football, and start dreaming of other, more normal things, like getting married or buying a house. You’d be right in expecting that you’d feel terrible, like everything you’d been living for was now gone, an unreachable impossibility.īut slowly, your desires and expectations will adjust.
Imagine you’re a college football star, on track to get drafted by a pro team.
To get started, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals.). ( Side note: One proven way to improve your happiness and life satisfaction is to focus on goals that truly matter. On the other hand, creating happiness can be easier than you ever imagined – many of the activities you ignore, like cultivating gratitude, do very much even with little effort. Our research suggests a moral, and a warning: Nothing that you focus on will make as much difference as you think.” “People are exposed to many messages that encourage them to believe that a change of weight, scent, hair color (or coverage), car, clothes, or many other aspects will produce a marked improvement in their happiness. See whatDaniel Kahneman, founder of Behavioral Economics had to say about happiness: Many of the goals that people strive for are the same way. Having money, a perfect family and great kids will not, by itself, intrinsically bring happiness. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.Ĭreating happiness is harder than you think – many of the activities you think will make you happier… do very little. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy.