From Hamsters to Happiness: How to Ditch The Hedonic Treadmill of Dissatisfaction

Our individual pursuit of growth and excellence does not always equate to joy, due to regular responses, beliefs and self-doubt.  Today we learned that Hedonic adaptation, on the surface - can be beneficial. Yet taken to extremes, can lead to emotional dysregulation and destructive coping mechanisms.  Judging our emotions can influence our psychological well-being, inhibiting our ability to effectively move away from dissatisfaction. Therefore, the trap of the hedonic treadmill creates anxiety, obstacles and bitterness. We can, however, move away from old mindsets and embrace new, more hopeful perspectives.  Personal Growth. On our journey to becoming our best selves, we often consider it to be a vital part of our happiness. However, with the amount of time spent striving for individual progression and excellence,  Why doesn't growth equate to greater joy? Examining what brings us hardships and pain, so many of the various problems people struggle with are actually the result of the same trap - falling into habitual patterns in their response to circumstances, understanding occurrences, believing in constraints, and succumbing to self-doubt. This creates anxiety and outrage; it holds us back, builds up bitterness, and stops us from expressing ourselves honestly and genuinely.  But we have the capability to move away from old beliefs, suppositions, and mindsets, and embrace new natural, hopeful perspectives on ourselves and the opportunities that surround us. Hedonic adaptation is the process by which humans become accustomed to emotional, mental, and physical stimuli. On the surface, this appears to be beneficial, leading to a more comfortable, even joyful, existence. However, when hedonic adaptation is taken to its extreme, it can become our worst enemy. Our guest, Psychotherapist, Certified Mindset Coach, Certified NLP Coach Practitioner, Byron Athene teaches how to move From Hamsters to Happiness While Ditch The Hedonic Treadmill of Dissatisfaction Key Points: Why does hedonic adaptation play a role in emotional dysregulation? How much of human beings’ time is spent in a state of emotional activation, and are we designed to live in a state of emotional activation? Chronic emotional activation or stress can have negative effects on physical and mental health. JOIN US ON INSTAGRAM: @thelightinsidepodcast SUBSCRIBE: pod.link/thelightinside Featured Guest: Byron Athene Credits: Music Score by Epidemic Sound Executive Producer: Jeffrey Besecker Mixing, Engineering, Production, and Mastering: Aloft Media Studio Senior Program Director: Anna Getz