We all know that "more" means bigger houses, nicer cars, fancier vacations, and so on. But have you ever thought about what is "enough"?
When "Enough" Wasn’t Enough
In my mid-20s, my career goal was purely a number - "To make 6 figures". $100,000 would be more than my parents made in any given year, combined. It would be the embodiment of "I made it". It was a big goal, but it was attainable for me as a young woman in finance with her Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
I remember checking my employee portal periodically to see my annual salary inch closer to six figures, feeling invigorated and excited. I worked tirelessly for that goal and got there shortly after returning to work after my maternity leave from my first kid. I was 26 at the time. Amazing family, great job, 6 figures salary; my 15-year-old self would've been so proud.
The joy and excitement were surreal. Well, for the one day that it lasted anyway. I was surprised by how much it faded after working so hard for so long on this goal. That surely didn't feel like the eternal happiness that I dreamt up in my head.
At the same time, I started to upgrade my lifestyle. My husband and I also started the expensive journey of being new parents. My raise? Poof, it disappeared before I could even feel it. I began to think, "What if I make 120k? What about 200k?" There must be a magic income level that would solve all of my life's problems, but I just hadn't gotten it right yet.
You probably have guessed how it ended - a higher salary didn't satiate my appetite because my appetite kept growing. Now several years older and hopefully wiser, I could pinpoint exactly what I was going through: I ran on the hedonic treadmill.
What Is "Hedonic Treadmill"
The term "hedonic treadmill" was coined by Brickman and Campbell in their article, "Hedonic Relativism and Planning the Good Society" (1971). It describes the idea that humans tend to quickly adapt to new levels of happiness or well-being.
Isn’t that true? As our financial situation improves, our desires and expectations tend to grow alongside our bigger paychecks, leaving us in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction. This phenomenon can lead us to constantly chase after more money and material possessions, always seeking that next dopamine hit.
The Pursuit of Enough
In a world constantly pushing us to want more, how can we counteract the influence of the hedonic treadmill and find contentment?
Pursue "enough" instead of "more".
"Enough" might seem like such a simple word but it's a loaded concept because it truly is different for everyone. This idea deserves a whole newsletter, but for now, let's explore it consicely:
My simple formula for satisfaction:
Satisfaction = Units of Possession * Enjoyment Per Unit
Imagine possessions as oranges. When your orange juice pitcher runs low, you might think, "I must not have enough oranges." After all, Instagram posts keep pushing different kinds of newer, juicer oranges at you. Getting those new oranges will surely bring you more orange juice, right? However, have you considered taking the time to squeeze and savor each orange you already have?
When we’re feeling unsatisfied, we typically tend to focus on the first part of the equation - units of possession. However, the key to the pursuit of “enough” is really to focus on the second part - enjoyment per unit. To put it simply- “Count Your Blessings”. This idea is so transcendent of cultures and times, it has inspired a lot of academic research to back it up, such as “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens” (Emmons & McCullough, 2003)
While pursuit of more material goods, aka running on the hedonic treadmill brings you short-term happiness, the key to long-term contentment lies in gratitude and the ability to savor and enjoy what you already have. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't have goals or aspirations, but rather that we should learn to find contentment in the present moment, regardless of our circumstances.
And with that, I wish you a happy journey towards finding your own "enough".
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