There’s a Name For It

According to the Wall Street Journal, experts in “happiness research” use a concept called hedonic adaptation. This is the notion that people rapidly adapt to improvements in their lives and thus can end up feeling little or no better off.

Hey - I resemble that remark! When the bathroom renovation is done, it’s on to the kitchen. When the pool is done, it’s on to the landscaping. When I get some new clothes, I’d like shoes to go with them. When I get my “To Do” list under control, I pile on more activities to fill my time. I’m always wanting more, and honestly, I don’t see anything wrong with that. I don’t think life would be all that exciting if I weren’t continually reaching for the next rung up the ladder, but I could stand to gain a little perspective on just how much I do have.

The experts recommend three ways to combat hedonic adaptation and prevent dissatisfied feelings from closing in: count your blessings, try new and challenging activities, and cultivate friendships. I think I have #2 and #3 covered. But #1? Gotta work on that one. So right now, I’m going to list 10 Blessings. Why don’t you list 10 of your own blessings in the comments or on your blog?

1. My children
2. My husband
3. My family (other than #1 & #2)
4. My home
5. My health
6. My membership at an awesome health club
7. Having access to just about any food I want
8. My pool
9. My large stash of scrapbooking supplies
10. My laptop