Life Lessons
Was thinking of how ungrateful and messed we humans are. You experience something with such awe and wonder for the first time and then in few days or months, you feel entitled and its normal for you. You don’t care about that thing or experience anymore. There is a term for it — Hedonic Adaptation or Hedonic Treadmill. Here is a definition from Wikipedia:
“The hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.”
I have experienced it many times over in my life. For example, when I came to this country (US) for the first time, I was in a sense of total awe getting out of the airport (in a cab), looking at some amazing cars (not so amazing now) - especially the ones which were sporty looking with an open top. And then as I got on the road, I was amazed at many things such as the highway, the sign boards (so organized) and the speed at which we were moving. And then getting to the hotel room and having a wonderful feeling from the smell in room. And then getting out of the hotel and experiencing the cool air and green lawn/trees around. Everything was amazing. Felt like a child experiencing something for the first time. But as days and months went past, the hedonic adaptation set in. I don’t remember how and when, but things were normal and not a big deal. I felt entitled.
By the way, it doesn’t have to be a dramatic experience like this. Even small experiences which you enjoy initially become normal. Say, for example going in plane for the first time. Buying an iPad or iPhone for the first time. Driving your brand new car. All of these things start to feel normal and you lose interest or don’t care.
I realized it doesn’t have to be this way. Its in my power (with a little bit of mind trick and visualization) to experience things like they were for the first time. I just had to imagine as if I had not bought or experienced something before (that’s why I call it a mind trick) and you will get that feeling of awe and wonder. It takes practice, but eventually you will get it. You could apply this for something as simple as watching a tree with all its leaves and branches. And when was the last time you really observed what the shape of the leaves were in the tree. Or do you even remember what the ceiling of your bedroom looks like. I am serious — do you remember where the A/C vents are or how many are there — will you be able to reproduce it if I ask you draw that in a paper. By the way, this technique of looking everything from a fresh perspective (as if you had not seen this before) is also one of the techniques suggested by practicing Stoics — to find joy in what you have and not chase the unachievable happiness from accumulating more stuff (not just stuff — even relationships).
So turn on the sense of childlike awe & wonder in you and experience the bliss and happiness once more!
