On the recommendation of a friend, I have lately been reading “From Strength to Strength” by Arthur C. Brooks. It’s a fantastic book about how to find happiness and sustainable fulfillment in life by stepping out of the game of algorithms, societal expectations, and the notorious hedonic treadmill.
I was astonished to learn that Philip Brickman, the psychologist who coined the term “hedonic treadmill,” and was also known for demonstrating that winning the lottery brings no sustainable satisfaction, died by suicide. The man who arguably most thoroughly studied fulfillment and happiness in fact couldn’t hack the system himself, which led to his untimely death.
The hedonic treadmill is a very real phenomenon in this cultural climate of endless striving, and for those of you who are not familiar with the term, here’s my definition: It is the human tendency to endlessly pursue a vanishing horizon that only leads toward more competition, more effort, and deeper strain without ever reaching a lasting place of satisfaction. I’ll be happy when I achieve… Like the quickly fading “new car smell,” the hedonic treadmill keeps us chasing dopamine hits and ego bling that are ultimately fueled by our deep fear of failure or lack.
In his book, Brooks teaches that lasting happiness is not found on the vanishing horizon line, as many successful high-achievers inevitably discover once they reach the top. In fact, his findings demonstrate that the three ingredients for lasting happiness are: enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning/purpose. These are all qualities that can be found in the moment you are in (with whatever is present) rather than somewhere out there.
I agree with Brooks that Happiness is the result of finding what you seek in the NOW, and building consistent habits of seeing the world through this lens. Such a perspective aligns beautifully with a mindfulness practice that is awake, aware, curious, and embodied.
When you break it down to finding those three happiness ingredients in your life, it makes sense that they would be linked to aligned relationships, meaningful work, spirituality, creativity, and authentic integrity—all important facets of The Radiant Life Project.
Look around in your present moment. Sense into your body and heart. Consider the most crucial relationships and experiences of your life that bring you sustainable fulfillment. They cannot be replicated by an influx of online followers, an arduous step up the corporate ladder, or any other measurable achievement that takes you away from your core values.
Once you align your actions with the people and experiences that matter most to you, a radiant life and a lasting well of happiness becomes available to you. Don’t believe me? Check out “From Strength to Strength” and then let’s talk more about it!
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