Hedonic Treadmill

"Beware of the hedonic treadmill, which makes it easy to grow accustomed to pleasures and advances, such as a new car, new job title. Too soon, that good feeling wears off"
-Gretchen Rubin

I don't know about you guys, but this is one of my worst traits.
I wish and wish and wish for some particular thing or circumstance to change or grow and once it does, I quickly grow accustomed to it, lose appreciation for it and move on to wanting something else... something more in another avenue of life.

As I was writing in my one-sentence journal this morning, I read the above quote by Gretchen Rubin. It really hit home with me. I always think, "When I get this house, then things will settle down." "When I get this job or position, things will be better." "When I get a new car, I wont have to deal with this anymore." The bad part is that once those things are achieved, I enjoy them only for a short time and then move on to something else.

This is not a good thing.

Today, I am challenging myself to start appreciating and acknowledging the good things in my life that I have yearned for and achieved... those things that I once yearned for and have since forgotten.. Those relationships that have added a lot to my life... my job and success in my career... my home, car and everything inside of it.. the life I like, everyday..

I'm going to take a moment and recognize what these things are and appreciate them instead of moving on and yearning for more.

Don't forget to stop and smell the rose's sweetness in your life.