(Day 22)
30 Days of Self-Care Information and Strategies – Kristin Cowart, MSW, LCSW
No matter how we initially feel when a major life event or change occurs (positive or negative) hedonic adaption is the term used to describe how we tend to quickly return to our previous happiness “baseline.” So, while we think when something amazing happens we will be happier, the reality is that this quickly becomes our “new normal.” This power of adaptation leads many of us to take most things in our life for granted. Novelty, variety and surprise can help prevent or slow down this adaptation. To learn more about how, read Hedonic Adaptation: Why You Are Not Happier. Then watch Raj Raghunathan’s Would winning the lottery make you happier? (4 min) to see the “hedonic treadmill” in action and learn a few things that may actually make you feel happier. You might be surprised…
