The Pursuit of More

We all have a "Happiness Set Point." Imagine it's a thermostat set to 72°F.

• Good events (winning the lottery, getting a raise) heat up the room to 80°F.
• Bad events (losing a job, breakup) cool it down to 60°F.

But eventually, the thermostat always kicks in and returns the room to 72°F. This phenomenon is called The Hedonic Treadmill.

The Easterlin Paradox

Economist Richard Easterlin found that while richer people are generally happier than poor people, societies do not get happier as they get richer. Once basic needs are met, the correlation between money and happiness flattens.

Why? Adaptation.

Humans are wired to adapt.

• The New Car: Smells amazing for 2 weeks. After 3 months, it's just "the car" you use to sit in traffic.
• The New House: Feels like a palace for a month. Then it effectively shrinks as you fill it with stuff.

How to Hack the Treadmill

Adaptation happens to things, but it happens much slower to experiences.

1. Buy Time: Hire a cleaner or pay for a shorter commute.
2. Buy Memories: Travel, concerts, and skills. The memory of a trip to Paris often gets better with time (Rosy Retrospection), whereas a luxury bag gets scratched and fades.