Hedonic Treadmill in Finance
What happens when success rises faster than satisfaction?
4.4 (24)
25 mins
Explore how the hedonic treadmill shapes our financial lives, making us adapt to every gain and crave the next upgrade. Discover why luxury loses its thrill, expectations keep shifting, and lasting contentment requires pacing, perspective, and conscious gratitude, not endless consumption.
Ep 1:
Why More Money Never Satisfies
Lottery winners, dopamine, and a doubling salary myth reveal why getting what you want rarely delivers the happiness you expect—and why your brain is wired to keep moving the goalposts.
Ep 2:
The Treadmill Inside the Treadmill
Pleasure fades into mere comfort, satisfaction itself demands escalation, and we're shockingly bad at predicting how any of it will actually feel—the treadmill goes deeper than you think.
Discussions (11)
Orion
Level 6 · 7 mo agoThat 1978 study had a sample size of 22 and is statistically irrelevant. Killingsworth debunked this in 2021 showing happiness rises with income well past 75k. Stop coping with bad science.
Tiffany
Level 7 · 7 mo agoThe stat about needing double your salary to be happy is super frustrating because it’s so true 😩 I always think I just need a little more! The goalpost really never stops moving 😂😂
Robin
Level 10 · 7 mo agoI felt that car example. I was so excited for my new ride but now it is just a vessel for empty Tim Hortons cups. The thrill fades fast but at least the heated seats help in these winters lol
