#### [[The Hedonic Treadmill]] --- > "\[...\] 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." The observation that humans will always return to a baseline level of happiness. The *The Hedonic Treadmill* means that we will grow accustomed to our present circumstance be it either positive or negative. Humans will ultimately return to a consistent level of happiness despite the circumstances, the adrenaline will wear off, as will the excitement, and we will settle back into the present moment. Imagery that comes to mind is 2 events. 1. Someone is captured and sold into slavery. What will then occur after all of the initial negative emotions, realizations, and thoughts might be grim acceptance of the lot in life and a return to some semblance of emotional homeostasis. I.e. the individual finding pieces of happiness in the midst of a grim circumstance; (Having a day off of toil and spending it swimming in a refreshing lake). 2. The inverse of this being extreme high's such as ones winning the lottery, after the initial turn of fortune, you will grow accustomed to your new found wealth and lifestyle. Once you grow comfortable and used to the outcome of winning the lottery, you return to the baseline level of happiness you had before you won, or somewhere close to it. To regain that "high" you need some new "shot" of excitement / pleasure / new shiny toy. No matter how happy you become in life, or how bad life gets, ultimately you will grow accustomed to your circumstance. --- Tags: [[Happiness]] - [[Psychology]] - Reference: [The Hedonic Treadmill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_treadmill) Related: - [[Stoicism]]