Hedonic adaptation is really just another way of saying: "Once you get used to the thing that made you happy, it no longer makes you happy." The most famous example of this has to do with unexpected success. A study in the late 1970s followed recent lottery winners and measured their happiness over the course of the year. While there was an initial bump following the win, the enjoyment of everyday activities one year later was rated at a 3.33 on a 5.0-point scale. Another group was followed at the same time: newly para- or quadriplegic victims of accidents. One year later, enjoyment of their daily activities clocked in at 3.48 -- higher than that of the lottery winners.  There's a vital lesson here. Hedonic adaptation also means "Once you get used to the thing that made you sad, it no longer makes you sad." The implications for your finances and happiness are enormous. We can adjust to having less "stuff" with no long-term effect on our well-being." https://lnkd.in/dGTKYeFu