OCTOBER 19 — It’s the reason why, if you get a 40 per cent raise tomorrow, by next month you’ll be feeling the same as yesterday. It’s the reason why if you should make your kid wait for that Transformer toy he’s screaming at the universe for — this gives him a better chance of appreciating what you bought. It’s also the reason why alcoholics can’t stop drinking.
The hedonic treadmill is that condition in which we pursue more and more pleasure, but never get much more happiness than what we already have.
Advice to all fresh grads: When you get your first pay cheque, save 80 per cent of it. Never go on a spending spree to "feel more fulfilled." And unless you’re the lone bread-winner in your family and your jobless sister just had a kid? Don’t ever get a credit card. Walk straight past those hyper-excited executives at 1Utama offering you a Cabinet Minister position if you only sign up for Visa Silver.
You’re welcome.
The hedonic treadmill is the reason why pressuring our kids to attain the higher echelons of academia won’t help their character development; in fact it may create a fragile mindset. Ever notice that your emotionally unstable cum eruptive classmates tend to come more from the top 10 per cent of the class than the bottom 10 per cent?
When I was in Form 5, the guardians of the SPM galaxy were telling me that the exams were my life, death, damnation and resurrection all in one. I told meself that I only needed to do well that November, score a thousand As, and I wouldn’t worry about studies anymore. Twenty years and about a dozen paper-qualifications later, I’m still the same.
The hedonic treadmill is proof the modern human subject never learns. We could have a million people tell us every day that wealth and material assets do not bring happiness, but we’ll move right on and click on the first BS promotion that comes into our Gmail.
It’s the reason why most people are in credit card debt, have filled their house with junk, and find it impossible to resist something as pointless as the iPhone 6.
It works the other way, too
If the hedonic treadmill works one direction, thank God it also works the opposite. We’ll never become much happier than now, but guess what? It’s also not that easy to become more miserable.
The treadmill is the reason why we’ll eventually get used to the toll hike last week. It’s the reason why anybody has yet to commit suicide in the midst of a traffic jam (no matter how long).
It’s the reason why, though many of us can still remember the time when char kuey teow costs only RM1.50 (and we swear and curse each time the price rises by 50 cents), it’ll be a donation-free day in Putrajaya before we quit hawker food entirely.
It’s the reason why next year — unless some dude wants to take the heat off his own scandal — news on the haze will barely make the headlines. We, like our happiness, adapt.
Maybe this is why the United States can have a mass-shooting every minute yet more than half the people will cry holy murder if President Barack Obama proposes something as ridiculous as, “How about tighter gun laws, guys? You know, in order to have fewer psychos killing innocent people?”
America has gotten used to seeing love-sick status-obsessed youths shooting at school children.
Enjoy things in their absence
Here’s a tip for your next holiday or car or whatever unnecessary-ass spending deceives you into thinking that the faster you run on the happiness treadmill the further you’ll go: Learn to love stuff without owning or having them.
If you’re planning a trip to Hong Kong, by all means read the reviews at Tripadvisor, check out the 24/7 sale at Air-Asia, drool over the luxury-rooms at Hotel Club.com and even talk to your pals about the ‘awesome shopping’ at Tsim Sha Tsui but — and this is very important — do NOT purchase a thing.
Let your desire remain a desire. Don’t spend a thing. Don’t actually go.
The never-ending and never-to-be-fulfilled anticipation of visiting Jackie Chan’s homeland can be more exciting than actually going there. The non-stop dreaming and yearning to go for the trip makes the trip itself pale in comparison. This is the only way you’ll experience some "progress" on the hedonic treadmill.
But if you click on that ‘BUY NOW’ button or get on that Boeing or check-in to Hong Kong Island or go up Victoria’s Peak – guess what? In no time, you’ll be back to exactly where you started, happiness-wise.
Sure, you may have more photos to upload on Facebook. But the feelings of fun would’ve stabilized.
You don’t think I’m making sense?
Recall the last time you went for a real holiday (instead of the "potential" one I’m proposing). C’mon, when was the best and most exciting time? Was it not the few days BEFORE the date itself? And when was the most miserable time? Was it not the day of RETURN?
So isn’t it logical to render perpetual those "days before you left", by never leaving? Doesn’t it make sense to ensure that the "day you come back" NEVER arrives, by not going in the first place?
“Alwyn, you’re insane. So you’re telling us to never ever have an enjoyable trip ever?”
No, I’m not. I’m saying that as long as the anticipation and excitement remain high — skip the trip. Enjoy the anticipation itself. Savour the non-fulfilment of your desires, for it is only as unfulfilled that your desires remain, uh, desirable.
The hedonic treadmill is beneficial when we learn to enjoy ourselves without attempting to go further. Our greatest joy comes when we recognise that evening running slowly can be a good thing.
Every time you’re tempted to spend more ("run faster") because you think you’ll be much happier ("go further") – don’t.
However…
When the anticipation has already died down, and you no longer crave to visit Hong Kong? When you’re no longer sprinting along the treadmill thinking you’ll get way further if you only spend more than you can afford?
Please. Go and enjoy yourself in Andy Lau's country.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
