How to Move Beyond Your Happiness Baseline

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We’ve been sold a lie about happiness. Self-help books, motivational speakers, and social media influencers tell us that we can—and should—strive for ultimate happiness, that elusive “10 out of 10” life. But what if that goal is impossible? What if, instead of reaching for a perfect state of joy, we should focus on something more attainable: gradually moving our happiness set point up?

The Myth of Maximal Happiness

Many of us assume that happiness is something we can achieve if we just check enough boxes: the dream job, the right relationship, the perfect house. But research suggests that we each have a happiness set point, a general baseline level of happiness that we return to over time.

Think of happiness on a scale from 0 to 10. Most of us hover around a 5 or 6, no matter what external achievements we rack up. While we might experience temporary spikes in happiness—like after a big promotion or an expensive purchase—those feelings usually fade, and we return to our baseline.

So instead of trying (and failing) to reach a 10, what if we aimed to shift from a 5 to a 6 or a 7? That might be the real secret to long-term happiness.

The Trap of Hedonic Adaptation

One of the biggest obstacles to sustained happiness is a psychological phenomenon called hedonic adaptation. This is our brain’s tendency to quickly return to its baseline happiness level, no matter what external circumstances change.

We experience hedonic adaptation in three key areas:

1. The Hedonic Treadmill: Why Buying Happiness Doesn’t Work

Imagine you finally buy that dream car, that designer bag, or the latest gadget. At first, you’re thrilled. But after a few days or weeks, the excitement wears off. That once-exciting purchase becomes just another thing you own, and you’re back to feeling like your usual self.

This is the hedonic treadmill—the cycle of buying, feeling temporarily happy, and then returning to your baseline. To compensate, many of us seek out the next purchase, thinking this time it will be different. But it never is.

2. The Achievement Treadmill: The “I’ll Be Happy When…” Lie

We also see hedonic adaptation in how we chase professional and personal goals. We tell ourselves:

• I’ll be happy when I get promoted.
• I’ll be happy when I finish my degree.
• I’ll be happy when I buy a house.

But what happens when we actually achieve these milestones? Sure, we feel a rush of pride and satisfaction—but before long, we adapt. We set new, bigger goals, convinced that this next one will finally make us happy.

This achievement treadmill keeps us running toward an ever-moving finish line, preventing us from ever feeling truly satisfied.

3. The Overdrive Treadmill: The Money Myth

A common belief in the financial independence community is that once we save enough, invest wisely, or retire early, we’ll be free and happy. But many people who reach financial independence find themselves asking: Now what?

Like with material possessions and achievements, money only solves money problems. If you don’t have enough to cover your basic needs, increasing your income will improve your happiness. But beyond a certain point, more money won’t fix deeper issues like loneliness, a lack of purpose, or unresolved emotional wounds.

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The Real Formula for Happiness: Meaning + Purpose

If happiness isn’t found in wealth, achievements, or material things, where does it come from? The answer lies in two key components: meaning and purpose.

1. Meaning: Rewriting the Story You Tell Yourself

Meaning comes from how we interpret our past. It’s the story we tell ourselves about our lives—our struggles, triumphs, and failures.

Many of us unknowingly cast ourselves in a victim narrative, seeing life as something that has happened to us. But happiness increases when we reclaim our story, seeing ourselves as resilient, resourceful, and capable.

Instead of saying, Life has been unfair to me, we can shift our mindset to:

• I’ve overcome challenges and grown stronger.
• I am more than my failures or hardships.
• I have agency over my future.

By reframing our past experiences, we create a foundation for a more fulfilling life.

2. Purpose: The Joy of Doing, Not Achieving

The second key to happiness is little-p purpose—not a grand, world-changing mission, but the simple, everyday activities that light us up.

Purpose isn’t about proving our worth or achieving external success. It’s about doing things that bring us intrinsic joy. This could be:

• Writing because you love to, not for recognition.
• Playing music just for fun, not to impress anyone.
• Volunteering because it feels good, not for accolades.

When we pursue activities for the sheer enjoyment of them—not as a means to an end—we cultivate a more sustainable sense of happiness.

Breaking Free from the Treadmill

If you truly want to increase your happiness, stop running on the treadmills of consumption, achievement, and financial overdrive. Instead:

1. Shift your mindset about happiness. Accept that a perfect “10” is unrealistic. Focus on moving from a 5 to a 6 or 7.
2. Recognize hedonic adaptation. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking external accomplishments will bring lasting happiness.
3. Rewrite your personal narrative. See yourself as the hero of your story, not the victim.
4. Prioritize process over product. Do things that bring joy in the moment, rather than constantly chasing the next big goal.

At the end of the day, happiness isn’t about reaching a final destination—it’s about creating a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling along the way.

So step off the treadmill. Stop chasing a perfect life. And start focusing on the things that truly move the needle on your happiness.

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