The Stronger We Chase Money, the Weaker Our Chance to Catch It
Unless we break the hedonic treadmill intentionally, finding true happiness can be challenging, but there are viable solutions
In pursuing happiness, some people believe that earning lots of money is the key. They think that if they can earn substantial money above standards, they will finally be happy. However, from my experience and looking at human history, the ambitious pursuit of money and missing our other needs, like in Maslow’s hierarchy, might delay earning and cause unhappiness.
I firmly believe that when we live with joy and work in a flow state intentionally, earning money can be much easier. Therefore we should seek joy and satisfaction from internal sources before trying to be rich with our external sources. This wise approach can l make us happier, healthier, and wealthier.
The hedonic treadmill is the tendency for people to return to a relatively stable level of happiness, regardless of their income level. In other words, no matter how much money we earn, we will eventually get used to it, and our level of happiness will plateau. In addition, when we become unhappy, earning money can be more arduous.
As documented in this paper, “According to the hedonic treadmill model, good and bad events temporarily affect happiness, but people quickly adapt back to hedonic neutrality. The theory, which has gained widespread acceptance in recent years, implies that individual and societal efforts to increase happiness are doomed to failure.”
As people earn more money, their expectations for what constitutes a “good life” also increase. This means that they need to earn more and more money to maintain the same level of happiness. Understanding this human nature and psychological situation is vital for happiness.
The constant pursuit of money without enjoying our lives and work can be demanding and stressful. Accumulated stress and associated anxiety can adversely affect our health and mental and emotional well-being, decreasing happiness.
More importantly, solely pursuing money can cause neglecting other important areas of our lives, like relationships, belongingness, health, personal growth, and self-actualization. When we neglect these crucial areas, our happiness might suffer, as happened to me in my younger years.
So, you may wonder what we can do to break the hedonic treadmill and find true happiness. To liberate ourselves from the clutches of the hedonic treadmill and rediscover genuine happiness, we can adopt some strategies I explain in five sections without going into scientific or technical details.
1 — Live in the present moment.
The most powerful way to increase our happiness is to live in the present moment. This means being fully aware of our thoughts, feelings, moods, and behaviors without judgment and without getting caught up in the past or the future.
By living in the present moment, we experience pleasant emotions like joy, gratitude, serenity, and contentment. They are default emotions for humans. Mindful living can help us to experience less unpleasant emotions, like stress, anxiety, fear, boredom, anger, or jealousy.
One simple way to live mindfully is to focus on our breath. When we notice our mind wandering, we can gently bring our attention back to our breath. This will activate the vagus nerve and calm down the amygdala, smoothen the limbic system, and prevent overactivation of the HBA axis.
Another useful technique is meditation by sitting quietly and focusing on our thoughts and feelings without judgment. By meditating three times a day, I learned to live in the moment, lowering my stress and anxiety.
Living in the present moment benefits our mental and emotional well-being. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive thoughts. Mindful living can improve our health, cognitive function, relationships, and well-being.
Here are some tips for living in the present moment:
1 — Pay attention to your senses and sensations. Take a few minutes each day to notice the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of your surroundings.
2 — Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. Notice your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Don’t try to change them, observe them. and let them fade.
3 — Be present in your relationships. When you’re with someone, give them your full attention. Don’t let your mind wander to the past or the future.
4 — Do things that you enjoy. When you’re doing something that you enjoy, you’re more likely to be present at the specific moment.
Living in the present moment is a skill that requires practice. The more we practice, the easier it will become. And the more you practice, the happier we’ll be.
2 — Be grateful for what you have.
Gratitude is a pleasant emotion that can have a profound impact on our happiness and well-being. When we are grateful, we focus on the good things in our lives, big and small.
This shift in perspective can help us appreciate the present moment, reduce stress, and build stronger relationships.
Studies have shown that gratitude can lead to increased happiness and well-being. Feeling grateful can help us reduce stress and anxiety, allowing us to focus on the positive aspects of our lives.
Gratitude can help us build stronger relationships as it increases appreciation and connection with ourselves and others. It can help us boost our self-esteem by reminding us of our strengths and accomplishments.
By living with gratitude, we can rewire our brains to become more resilient. Grateful behavior can help us bounce back from setbacks by helping us to see them as temporary challenges rather than permanent failures.
Here are some tips for practicing gratitude:
1 — Appreciate simple things in your life. Take a few minutes each day to notice the good things happening around you. For example, you may enjoy the beauty of nature, the taste of your favorite food, and the sound of music.
2 — Keep a gratitude journal. Each day, take a few minutes to write down a few things you are grateful for.
3— Send thank-you notes to your loved ones. Let the people in your life know how much you appreciate them.
4— Make time for the people who make you happy. Spend quality time with loved ones.
5— Show an act of kindness to others around you to express your gratitude.
3 — Focus on experiences, not possessions.
Experiences make us happier than possessions. This is because experiences have a lasting impact on our emotional state, while possessions tend to lose their novelty over time.
When we have an experience, our brain releases neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which are associated with pleasure, happiness, and connection.
These neurochemicals can reinforce positive emotions and support the value of experiences in our minds. Additionally, experiences involve social interactions, which can further trigger the brain’s reward system, enhancing our well-being and happiness.
The impact of prioritizing experiences over possessions on our happiness is profound. Experiences have a lasting impact on our emotional state, leaving us with fond memories and enriching our lives.
Possessions, on the other hand, may provide temporary satisfaction. Nevertheless, their novelty can decline, causing diminished happiness and fulfillment.
Memories created through experiences have an enduring effect on our emotional well-being. We can look back on significant experiences with nostalgia and joy, even years after they occurred.
In contrast, the joy derived from material possessions is usually fleeting and fades as we grow accustomed to them.
Pursuing experiences promotes a shift from consumerism and the constant desire for material possessions. This shift can reduce stress related to accumulating wealth and possessions, freeing up mental and emotional space to focus on what truly matters — our relationships and personal growth.
The emphasis on experiences over possessions significantly affects how we prioritize our time, resources, and relationships.
By prioritizing experiences, we can enrich our lives and build lasting connections with others for happiness and fulfillment. This mindset encourages us to seek novel and meaningful experiences that contribute to our self-discovery and growth.
Here are some tips for prioritizing experiences over possessions:
1 — Traveling can give us new and exciting experiences.
2 — Quality time with loved ones is a valuable experience creating beautiful memories we can cherish as we age.
3 — Learning new things can challenge our cognitive system and help us grow and stay cognitively healthy.
4 — Helping others is a rewarding experience that can make a real difference. So volunteering can help us gain new experiences.
5 — Stepping outside your comfort zone can help us accumulate memorable experiences. So taking calculated risks and living in our stretch zone can be invaluable for gaining more experience.
4 — Spend time with loved ones.
We are social creatures, thriving on connection with others. Our limbic system is open and craves meaningful relationships.
When we spend time with loved ones, the brain releases oxytocin and endorphins, which promote bonding, love, happiness, and well-being. More oxytocin can create trust, empathy, and attachment, enhancing our emotional connection with loved ones.
Meaningful and positive interactions with family members and friends can elicit joy, contentment, and belonging. These positive emotions enhance our overall happiness and contribute to improved mental and emotional health.
Strong relationships provide a support system during challenging times, reducing stress and increasing resilience. The emotional connection we share with loved ones can buffer against hardships, helping us navigate difficulties more easily.
Nurturing and investing in strong relationships can lead to a more fulfilling and happier life. It encourages us to be present and engaged during interactions, facilitating a more profound connection and intimacy.
Spending time with loved ones can encourage open communication and emotional expression, improving trust in the relationship.
Studies indicate that meaningful social connections might lead to better physical health. People with strong social support networks tend to have lower rates of depression and anxiety. They have better healthspan and lifespan.
Here are some tips for spending time with loved ones:
1 — Make time for regular social interactions. Schedule time to spend with loved ones, even if it’s just for a short time daily.
2 — Be present and engaged during interactions. For example, turn off your phone and focus on the people you’re with.
3 — Listen actively and ask prompting questions for better conversations. Show that you’re interested in what your loved ones have to say.
4 — Share your thoughts and feelings transparently. Open up to your loved ones and tell them what’s on your mind.
5 —Find activities that you and your loved ones can enjoy together.
5 — Give back to others.
Helping others can boost our happiness and well-being. When we give back to others, our brains release dopamine associated with pleasure and reward. Dopamine can reinforce the positive behavior of helping others, making us more likely to do it again.
When we help others, we feel like we are making a difference in the world, which can give our lives a greater sense of purpose and meaning. It can take our minds off of our own problems and worries, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Helping others can help us connect with others and build stronger relationships. It can boost our mood and make us feel happier. When we help others, we are reminded of all the good things in our lives, which can increase our gratitude.
Here are some tips for giving back to others:
1 — Find a cause that you are passionate about. This will make it more likely that you will stick with it and get satisfaction from your efforts.
2 — Do what you can, even if it is small. Any act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a difference in someone’s life.
3 — Be genuine. When you help others, do it from the heart. Don’t expect anything in return. Give unconditionally.
4 — When someone helps you, be sure to thank them. This will show them that you appreciate their efforts.
Summary of Key Points
The pursuit of money can lead to the hedonic treadmill, where people continually strive for more wealth and possessions, believing it will bring lasting happiness.
However, this condition demonstrates that regardless of income level, people tend to return to a relatively stable level of happiness over time.
To escape the cycle of seeking happiness solely through material gains, we can focus on experiences that create lasting memories and enrich our lives. By prioritizing experiences over possessions, we find greater fulfillment and contentment.
Meaningful relationships with loved ones are crucial to our happiness. Investing time and effort in building and maintaining these connections contributes significantly to our well-being.
Acts of kindness and giving to others not only benefit the recipients but also boost our own purpose and fulfillment. Helping others and contributing to society can enrich our lives and increases our happiness.
Dwelling on the past or worrying about the future can rob us of the joy and contentment of the present. By practicing mindfulness and living in the moment, we can savor life’s experiences more fully.
Gratitude is a potent emotion that enhances our happiness. By acknowledging and appreciating the blessings in our lives, we shift our perspective towards a positive and fulfilling outlook.
Financial security and independence are essential. However, it should not be the sole focus of our lives. By balancing our pursuits, including relationships, personal growth, and health, we can find a more holistic and sustainable path to happiness.
Redefining success beyond material wealth and recognizing the value of intangible aspects, like personal growth and meaningful experiences, can lead to a more satisfying and fulfilling life.
Besides, when we live with joy earning money can be easier. Therefore we should seek joy and happiness before trying to be rich. It will make us happier, healthier, and wealthier.
Conclusions
The pursuit of money is a complex and multifaceted journey. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to finding happiness for everyone. Our conditions and values differ.
However, by understanding the hedonic treadmill concept and its impact on our happiness, we can make more conscious choices about our relationship with money.
True and lasting happiness comes from focusing on living in the present moment mindfully, experiencing new things, living with gratitude, developing and cherishing relationships, and giving back to others.
By embracing a balanced and purpose-driven approach to life, we can break free from the pursuit of material possessions and discover the genuine happiness that resides within us.
Money is a valuable tool to enhance some aspects of life. However, it should not be the sole focus of our existence in this ephemeral world.
Pursuing happiness is an ongoing process of self-discovery and alignment with our values. By striving for a balanced and purposeful life, we can experience lasting happiness with open hearts, minds, and spirits.
The essence of financial freedom lies within us — it’s a state of mind, not an external circumstance. We can cultivate this liberation within ourselves, transcending the confines of external factors.
I noticed that when we become unhappy, earning money can be more arduous. Therefore, joyful life with collaboration with others can put us in a flow state and increase our chance of earning more money.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
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