![]() As time goes on, your happiness levels return to your baseline happiness. The dotted red line is your happiness baseline. Here is a chart that describes the hedonic treadmill where happiness levels are measured by the Y axis and time is measured by the X axis. This doesn’t mean that you forget about the person and what they meant to you, but your life continues to carry on and with that, your happiness returns to “normal”. By the same theory, after an appropriate amount of time passes, your happiness levels should increase back to your normal baseline. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, you may feel insurmountable grief, a sense of hopelessness, and depression. While this may seem somewhat depressing that objects cannot keep happiness levels inflated indefinitely, it is somewhat hopeful that this same theory can be helpful when dealing with loss and grief. As time passes, your increased happiness level begins to dissipate, habituation sinks in, and you are back at the same level of happiness that you were at prior to purchasing the iPhone. According to hedonic adaptation, this happiness caused by the iPhone will not last forever. You purchase the iPhone and are filled with happiness and excitement. ![]() Maybe you have experienced the anticipation of the newest iPhone coming out. “If only I had a newer car.” “If only I had a bigger house.” “If only I had more fashionable clothes.” “If only I had _ then I would be happy.” It’s also likely that after you acquire these possessions your happiness level decreases because you’re having to work harder to pay for everything! You are on the hedonic treadmill if you find yourself having the “if only” syndrome. Do you ever think to yourself “I’ll be happy once I get a new car, move into a bigger house, or buy a bigger television”? Don’t listen to that little voice in your head that’s telling you this! The theory of Hedonic Adaptation, or otherwise known as “The Hedonic Treadmill”, states that regardless of what happens to you, good or bad, your level of happiness will return to your baseline after the event occurs. ![]()
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