When DOUBTS Lead to CERTAINTY

 

We all shun off DOUBTS.  I myself, if I had my wife, I DON'T want to have anything that has got to do with DOUBTS.   WHY?  DOUBTs DON'T bring you over and cross-over via a clear path of a thought process.  BUT we are reminded by psychologists that EVERY BREAKTHROUGH STARTS IN THE DARK.  LIKE WHEN a scientist spots an odd pattern in the data.  LIKE WHEN a doctor senses something's OFF even before the test results arrive.  LIKE a designer noticing a friction point a metric CAN'T even explain.  In these circumstances, definitely CERTAINTY will come in, BUT much later.  After starting with a guess, sharpened by DOUBT and eventually tested by reality

Experts shared that everything starts with an incomplete information, leading to abductive reasoning.  19th century Philosopher Charles Sanders was quoted that DOUBT is the very engine of 'real thought'.  LIKE a designer noticing confusion before it happens.  LIKE a scientist forming a theory from partial data.  LIKE a product team guessing WHY a metric dropped.  Experts also advised that 'abductive reasoning' is a trainable skill alongside one's mindset, one that resists rushing toward certainty and treats wrong turns as part of a process

Experts advised us that transforming doubt into a decision tool helps us with the incidental discomfort WHEN the outcome remains uncertain, effectively a DOUBT.  Studies by Canadian researchers also concluded that DOUBT can be a powerful tool for improving decision-making and ensuring that new OR bold ideas are supported by rigorous evidence.  True, questions arising from DOUBT do open the possibilities leading to complex problem-solving, critical thinking and even creativity

Recently, I got curious with a research study WHICH concluded that our brain craves for CERTAINTY and in effect, that feeling of CERTAINTY leads us to feel rewarding, LIKE a nice shot of dopamine WHEN we believe we know OR are certain of something, thus closing a 'cognitive loop' [to borrow the jargon from experts].   WHEREAS a sense of UNCERTAINTY OR DOUBT generates a strong, psychological threat response, something our brain wants to avoid❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  Listening to a famous local motivational speaker recently, he urged us all that to thrive in this new world, we need to notice WHEN to operate from a position of UNCERTAINTY and start to consider the notion that even DOUBT might serve us better.  That is NOT to suggest that we develop a chronic lack of self-confidence and start to DOUBT everything we do.  The key message here is that we develop enough self-confidence to accept that maybe at times, CERTAINTY might even be misplaced OR worse, unhelpful.  YES, CERTAINTY will NOT help us to solve complex problems, think critically and create innovate solutions.  Next time UNCERTAINTY and DOUBT surfaces, let us embrace it as it will eventually lead to CERTAINTY💚💛💜

Don't Get Fixated With The SYMPTOMS!

 

I am and NOT and NEVER could claim to be a medical expert WHEN it comes to discussing SYMPTOMS BUT given the prevalence of one too many travails of human challenges that seem to be SYMPTOMATIC of an illness OR a problem, it is quite sad to observe that a plurality of us [if NOT a majority] are more FIXATED in FIXING the SYMPTOMS instead of attacking the very root cause and FIXING it instead📗📙📘

Through the years @workplace, we CAN'T get misguided OR lost as long as everyone in our operations delivery teams would consistently follow the Quality components with focus on CPAR [Corrective and Preventive Action Requests].  Sadly, quality management and its allied best practices CAN'T be rolled out in our personal daily lives [as easy as it is rolled out @workplace].  WHY?  Maybe it's because of our biases.  OR maybe it's because of the habits we have formed and embedded over time, LIKE, with the ease and convenience of the neighborhood pharmacy, it is quick and easy to buy OTC [over the counter] medications to quick fix a symptom bothering us now!!!

Frankly, if I wear the hat of a medical frontliner, my spiel will be this.  If you are going through any form and shape of a SYMPTOM, let us all agree that those SYMPTOMS are an outlet of a much deeper issue that could be likely fueling them and are NOT the very problem you suspected at the outset.  By recognizing that the SYMPTOMS are NOT the problem itself, it will lead us towards that path of awareness towards the root cause❎❎❎

Verily true, BAND-AID remedies are good and effective for a certain amount of time BUT sadly, those are NOT the fixes and solutions to a problem.  We DON'T need to rattle off statistics of divorce across continents and cultures BUT the divorce rates across Europe, Americas and Asia alone are NOT minuscule statistics that can be just ignored.  BUT DON'T we think that, to be fair to couples, many exerted efforts BUT sadly, many attempted the BAND-AID remedies???

Our takeaway:  Regardless of the nature of a problem, be it health-related, financial, commercial OR even legal, the shared commonality across all these settings is that WHEN a problem arises, let us NOT spend so much time getting hog-tied by the BAND-AID remedies.  While the pharmacy's OTC remedies can seem to fix things, those are BAND-AID solutions NO less.  And if we're talking about brewing disconnects within relationships, taking NO steps to find for the root cause will very likely lead to the problem exacerbating and skidding down south UNTIL things will go way out of hand, unresolvable.  WHAT happens next, your guess is as good as mine, at that point in time, the probability of finding the final fix to the very root cause of the problem may be nothing more than just a figment of one's imagination!@#$%?

Is 'GETTING OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE' A Bad Advice?

 

HOW many times have we heard ALMOST everyone egging us to GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONES?   Probably a zillion times.  Be it from our parents, mentors, counsellors, and even from coaches & motivational speakers.  NOW, straight from the cold, I came across a recent study breaking down the viability and merits of that age-old advice.  This time around, the study disproves all of those studies and instead, it dug a deep hole on the ground to stand pat WHY we should NOT get out of our COMFORT ZONES💥💥💥

YES, GETTING OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE sounds smart.  Unfortunately, everyone of them gets away with that supposedly very 'sage' advice even as it sounds authoritative and YET offering NOTHING of actual value, NOTHING in concrete terms.  BUT dice-and-drilling it, it sounds like a bad advice because often, it is communicated in a way that DOESN'T land for most people, and therefore, it just DOESN'T work.  In the most frank and categorical statement, allow me to restate things this way:  EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS WITHIN YOUR COMFORT ZONE BUT YOU'VE GOT TO STRETCH THINGS OUT✅✅✅

For alignment, let's agree on the COMFORT ZONE as that psychological 'SAFETY NET'.  LIKE we have a concept of our own self, that collection of ideas we hold about WHO we are and WHAT we do OR DON'T do.  LIKE a mental blueprint that influences our behaviors, preferences and even our perceived boundaries.  For brevity, that COMFORT ZONE is an extension of our self-concept helping us feel safe and very much in control.  YES, we know for a fact that this rowdy world we live in is quite crazy and unpredictable for us to be 'fluid' and leave our COMFORT ZONE often😌😌😌

Let's call a spade a spade.  WHEN we're told to 'LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE', let's admit it, it sounds quite overwhelming and scary because it seems to clash with the identity we've built.  The change seems too drastic and may even be quite intimidating, reinforcing the more those imaginary boundaries of our COMFORT ZONE.  Experts tell us that on an intellectual level, it might NOT seem that way BUT on a deeper level, our nervous system, emotional, psychological and subconscious levels, leaving our COMFORT ZONE equates to stepping into the unknown😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  Even as I play devil's advocate now, let's face it, going against our system is like trying to stretch a rubber band wrapped around a tree.  YES, we can only go so far before it snaps us right back to WHERE we started.  WHAT happens next, motivation dwindles and we end up back to square one, feeling worse for NOT sustaining the planned change. This cycle reinforces NEGATIVE beliefs about our abilities, leaving us to feel failed and frustrated.  So, IS GETTING OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE a bad advice???

That 'Existential Anxiety'

 

NOT to throw unnecessary OR senseless jargons to you BUT I came across EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY out of curiosity.  Taking a reverse-engineering by starting off with the manifestations before defining it, common outcomes of EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY include panic, hopelessness and significant disruptions in life.  And moving backward, it is defined as that deep-seated dread arising from confronting the fundamental limitations of our existence like the lack of inherent meaning in life😡😡😡

Studies show that our worst mental habit is that unconscious mental loop, catching ourselves in those hundred tiny ways.  LIKE, am I winning?  LIKE, WHO else is better than me?  LIKE HOW is that person making it ahead of me?  THAT little metric we keep in our heads.  WHO's richer?  WHO's happier?  WHO's farther ahead?  Ouch, YES dude, that's a massive waste of life WHICH sadly our brain loves measuring!@#$%?  Psychologists researched on this and their common conclusion is that we tend to be manifesting these behaviors for our survival.  BUT ironically, this 'ancient wiring' makes us quite 'miserable'.  Ouch, comparing to that 'other person' must feel bitter, right???

Indeed, if we are hit with this kind of anxiety, it could be quite a distraction and worse a nightmare because I can envision our minds would never cease fixating everything else we are NOT doing right.  I CAN'T fathom myself to get compared [like boxing's TALE of the TAPE] to every Tom, Dick and Harry, whew!!!  And I can imagine as well, even if we are doing things right, that EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY can pull us out of everything that's going right, right?  BUT alas, all is NOT lost.  Experts tell us that WORST habit has been proven to be the EASIEST to break because of its mental construct.  Meaning, we DON'T even have to quit OR change our entire routine.  Instead, we simply need to change the channel the minute you feel that urge❎❎❎

Experts tell us that there are NO one-size-fits-all symptoms of EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY, e.g.:

• Feeling lonely
• Feeling guilty or shamed
• Feeling like life is pointless
• Isolating oneself from others
• Questioning one's beliefs or choices
• Experiencing frequent worry or panic
• Having difficulty making own decisions
• Withdrawing from daily/regular activities
• Feeling like life's always going to be difficult

Our takeaway:  Hearing from the experts, this is NO chronic OR critical stuff to be bothered as long as we can gather our gumption and shoot it down with one question instead of following that thought down that rabbit hole of resentment and insecurity.  To be less verbose and for brevity sake, WHAT the experts are advising us is that this seemingly worst mental habit could also be the easiest one to break BUT ONLY IF we want to break that brain loop that makes many people feel like they are stuck [WHEN all they have to do is go and get UNSTUCK.  That EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY!!!

Daydreaming Benefits?

 

Care to DAYDREAM?  In my youth [YES YES yowww, I am way past my youth [and that's perfectly fine]], DAYDREAMING was likened to a 'pastime' for the lazy, the laidback, the unmotivated, the undisciplined.  Ooooops, as a disclaimer, those adjectives DIDN'T emanate from me though. NOT to exculpate myself BUT I agree that those beliefs are either misguided OR frankly, those are wrong beliefs to stand with💚💛💜

True, it is unavoidable that some of us follow that societal norm, i.e. STUDY HARD, GET GOOD GRADES, GO TO UNIVERSITY, BALANCE WORK & PLAY, AND THEN FOLLOW THE CORPORATE PATH TOWARDS SUCCESS AFTER GRADUATION.  But some of us soon realize that defining success is difficult.  Is that a conventional path of family, a secure job, and passions sacrificed for stability?  OR can succes be found in the pursuit of genuine joy?  YES, as we go through the motions of our daily lives, it is NOT uncommon to feel a sense of boredom OR lethargy, leading us to question things.  That humdrum routine of waking up, going to work, spending time with loved ones, and sleeping can make us feel like we're stuck in a vicious cycle💥💥💥

BUT recent studies came up with results showing that there's a way to break free from that monotony in our daily lives and it's DAYDREAMING, it being a powerful tool that can help us escape into our imagination and think beyond the mundane.  In short, the message being cascaded by these studies tell us that it is essential to take a PAUSE and reflect on our thoughts, no matter HOW big OR small they may be.  And WHEN we get busy, we tend to forget to breathe and take stock of our lives, till we become so engrossed n our daily routines, ouch😡😡😡

The question WHICH I'm even asking myself is this:  HOW OFTEN DO WE ALLOW OUR MINDS TO WANDER?  Perhaps, we're thinking of our dream vacation, our exciting next getaway [even WHEN we're stuck in traffic gridlock] OR spinning scenarios about winning that dream-deserving LOTTO major prize even WHEN you are in the midst of serious tasks at the workplace.  Regardless of WHERE we are OR WHAT we're thinking about, experts opine that DAYDREAMS are free thoughts and images unfettered from our active and sometimes frenetic daily schedules, all part of our brain function as per the experts.  Experts give us the assurance that DAYDREAMING has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety, that's besides helping in our problem-solving.  And WHEN it comes to setting and achieving our goals, taking the time to think for pleasure has also proven beneficial, all the more assuring us of the upsides of DAYDREAMING😊😊😊

Our takeaway:  Playing devil's advocate, I got curious so I was asking myself, CAN DAYDREAMING BE HARMFUL?  True, we all get lost in thoughts now and again.  BUT WHAT's noticeable is that as we age, DAYDREAMING dwindles over time.  That's because DAYDREAMING often centers on the future, WHICH tends to become more routine and certain as we age.  BUT we are subtly reminded that DAYDREAMING can still be leveraged for us to come up with informed decision-making regardless of our age.  Bottomline here, DAYDREAMING IS FOR ALL AGES, dude!!!

How Powerful Can Silence Be?

 

HOW POWERFUL CAN SILENCE BE?  Five years back WHEN we all got hit by that Covid-19 Pandemic, HOW often did we hear "I'M SO TIRED" but during those times, burnout and its long-lasting impact on our health really spiked all over.  And even the lines between WORK and PLAY became so blurred.  True, our increasingly noisy [and rowdy] world has been linked to even those cardivascular diseases, anxiety and depression.  BUT that's NOT the only reason we need more peace and quite in our lives💚💛💜

Of all the researches with SILENCE as the subject, that study from the University of Pavia seems more interesting because it revealed HOW much our body + brain both appreciated SILENCE.  The researchers investigated HOW different types of music [from classical to techno, raggae to rap] affected those 'markers of stress' [and surprisingly, including blood pressure, heart rate and breathing frequency💥💥💥

In our world today, SILENCE is often [and WRONGLY!!!] seen as an emptiness to be filled.  To piggy-back on some poetic one-liners, SILENCE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF SOMETHING OF SOMETHING BUT THE PRESENCE OF EVERYTHING.  Immersing myself in SILENCE, I have to admit that I have found NOT less BUT more.  And lowering the decibel level outside my skull has also turned up the volume from within, WHEN I can FINALLY hear myself think.  YES dude, that's HOW POWERFUL SILENCE CAN [really] BE😀😀😀

Here's the thing.  That notion of SILENCE as a presence [rather than as an ABSENCE] ISN'T just some airy-fairy stuff in the air.  Researchers have presented proofs that our brains perceive it that way.  A more recent study from John Hopkins University found that our brain processes SILENCE in EXACTLY the same way as it processes all the forms and shapes of sounds, as an 'EVENT'.  In short, SILENCE is NOT just inferred from a lack of 'auditory input BUT actually perceived.  In a poetic way, a researcher said it all:  "WE REALLY DO HEAR SILENCE".  Scientifically, experts tell us that there is evidence that attending to SILENCE can promote 'neurogenesis', that creation of new brain cells [in that part of our brain called 'hippocampus'].   In short, a completely SILENT environment would have been just as remarkable to our forebears💚💛💜

Our takeaway:  As I go through composing our blog today, my place is quiet.  YES, there is that soft whirr of my laptop [probably it's the fan whirring], the sound of my own inhalations and exhalations.  These are all sounds that would slip below the radar amid all the cacophony of everyday noise.  Would it matter if they did?  Arguably, researchers advise us that those faint sounds are the most important for our well-being as we evolve to have that incredibly auditory sensitivity.  BUT here's the awakening reality I myself uncorked after stumbling across those researches.  That is, IF we never step away from the hubbub, we'll never give our own selves that elusive opportunity to listen to SILENCE and find out WHAT it holds for us.  To quote the poets, TO LISTEN, YOU HAVE TO BE QUIET.  Well said, dude, right???

Tipping Your Hand On Your Future!

 

YES, we CAN'T blame you if you keep hearing and advised to ENJOY THE MOMENT, BE AT THE PRESENT.  BUT alas, there's a huge miss there because very few would qualify those advices by highlighting that WHILE you enjoy the moment and LIVE THE PRESENT, we should NEVER relegate the FUTURE to the backdrop, not at all.  For some, the FUTURE is a long time coming.  TRUE?  FALSE!  BTW, the FUTURE comes as early as the next hour, next day, next week, next month and next year in fact.  In short, there is very little time for us to lay down our guard because WHATEVER gets prioritizes by your hands, because that's TIPPING YOUR HAND ON YOUR FUTURE📗📙📘

In the friendliest layman's words, putting our FUTURE IN OUR HANDS needs to be translated via our goal setting.  Our is NOT a life that comes about by accident OR from careering from experience to experience, from one job to another, from one business to another endeavor, all the WHILE just managing to survive and coast along.  Instead, that goal setting gives us the chance to create our perfect life and the results can be nothing short of amazing.  At hindsight, I'm asking myself, if I DIDN'T tip my hands for my future, I'm unsure HOW would I be today.  It's just a food for thought WHICH I feel is worth synthesizing for me piece together the bits and pieces of WHAT IFs💚💛💜

Allow me to share this circuitous BUT insightful quote from American author Jim Rohn:  THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU GET INSPIRED BY THEM.  THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN THEM.  AND THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ACT UPON THEM.  That was quite verbose and mile-long BUT it is WHAT it is.  It is no less a catalyst justifying the need for us to seriously consider goal setting.  Heard about those scions of the rich and famous, the generational heirs WHO thought that all they need to do is sleep, get awakened and enjoy everday life.  How many conglomerates crumbled because the scions never lifted their fingers for that serious goal setting💥💥💥

WHY goals after all?  First of, they offer us the roadmap instead of simply waking up come next day and just allowing life to take you by the scruff of the neck and drag you in any direction it likes OR would you prefer to wake up with a purpose?  Goals offer us that roadmap on HOW to live our life, HOW to spend each day by doing something of value, something that, a little further down the line, will help you accomplish one of your greatest personal desires.  Goals can be likened to a powerful magnet.  They can drag you through the most miserable of days and the leanest of periods💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  In a few weeks, it's time for us to have our LATEST New Year's resolutions [all over again]!  Perhaps it's the free-flowing champagne that makes us think we can instantly become a thinner OR happier version of ourselves as the clock strikes.  NOT to be cynical BUT the problem with resolutions, aside from the fact most of them fail, is that they are a little more than good intentions.  In comparison, a goal is a journey, a measured way of achieving something wonderful that will positively impact your life journey.  Dude, will you now be TIPPING YOUR HAND ON THE FUTURE???

From ORDINARY To EXTRORDINARY

 

For the longest time, WHEN someone is tagged as 'ORDINARY', it somehow implies that he's languishing in the cellar, a cellar-dweller at that, sort of 'eating the dust' of the pacesetters, the leaders of the pack.  WHEREAS, the 'EXTRAORDINARY' ones seem to be atop and highly perched in their pedestals, seemingly elusive to catch and reach, and often given more awe and respect insofar as accomplishments and milestones are factored in.  YET, the truth of the matter is that all that separates ORDINARY from EXTRAORDINARY is that five-letter word spelled E-X-T-R-A📘📙📗

And if we have to quantify and differentiate thar ORDINARY versus EXTRAORDINARY, my very safe guess is that the gap between being ORDINARY versus EXTRAORDINARY is NOT huge enough, NOT even as wide as the English Channel and instead, enough for someone to uptick his efforts even for an EXTRA 1% more.  This differentiation between ORDINARY and EXTRAORDINARY  highlights the importance of going above and beyond WHAT is expected in oder to succeed in a specific endeavor.  WHAT it does suggest is that even a small amount of EXTRA effort, attention to detail OR even creativity can turn an ORDINARY experience OR outcome into something EXTRAORDINARY💢💢💢

Frankly, I've heard 'GOING ABOVE and BEYOND' a zillion times BUT WHAT this suggests is that we must be willing to do more than WHAT is expected of us.  We must go above and beyond WHAT is expected and/or needed from us.  Putting that EXTRA effort may mean 1% more than WHAT it should be BUT WHAT's another 1% or even 10%?  And obviously, within those upticks of EXTRAs, sometimes WHAT goes along with is our own appetite to take added OR EXTRA risks and maybe try new things.  YES, that would mean adding ounces of proactiveness, creativity & commitment as well💥💥💥

One obscured behavior WHICH I have witnessed multiple times is one's attention to details.  Doing and taking that little EXTRA often involves being meticulous and detail-oriented enough, taking the time to ensure that everything is done to the best of our ability.  That EXTRA attention to detail can make a hell of a difference in achieving your goal at that level of excellence [and NOT just for the heck of doing it].  In brief, this is akin to standing out even in the midst of a mamooth crowd out there💜💛💚

Our takeaway:  Going from ORDINARY to EXTRAORDINARY is no mean feat BUT if at all, it's all about cultivating the right mindset up front.  To be EXTRAORDINARY involves that need to hone that growth mindset , being open to new ideas and experiences, and embracing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning.  YES, that requires us to be persistent and resilient all rolled into one😀😀😀

How's Our DIGITAL LIFE

 

HOW's YOUR DIGITAL LIFE?  OR, have you ever paused and given that question a chance to ponder on?  Quite a few times recently, folks did pose me that same question as they all shared one concern, and that is sorting out their own DIGITAL LIVES.  True, there's an avalanche of digital information coming our way and WHAT else do we feel except that feeling LIKE it's all piling up and LIKE it seems messy???

From overflowing mail inboxes and messaging apps, to dozens of browser tabs and endless files on your device, to tasks and information [WHICH we still insist to keep track].  Allow me to share my no-brainer steps taken to date to allow me to SIMPLIFY things [to the best I can within my modest means]:

KISS [Keep It Simple, S___] - Remember, it's hard to organize WHEN we have millions of things to organize.  BUT my basic ground rule is so basic:  SIMPLIFY before ORGANIZING.  For all those pendencies, give others a quick reply if you can do so in less than a minute💥💥💥

Next BEST PRACTICE I have is to 'SILO' all the various stuff, i.e. for the tons of emails, for those I tag as important, i archive them in their respective folders.  For those browser tabs, regardless of the browser you often use, I would then bookmark those open tabs and put them in folders and if the tabs are that important, I would take the time to find a place for them.  For those tons of notes and docs, my practical advice is NOT to go to that rabbithole of trying to find the perfect syste [because there is NEVER  a perfect one].  Regardless if you're using Google Docs, One Note, etc, I'd create folders/tags for the info and docs for them to be grouped.  Retrieving becomes a breeze then💚💛💜

For your TO-DO tasks, seriously there is NO perfect system BUT my ground rule is fairly simple and that is, ALL tasks I need to take action on a given day must ALL be actioned.  And that's WHERE my TO-DO list can be a bit fluid and dynamic because priorities change.  Your top priority task yesterday can be relegated and pushed back because of a couple of hi-prio tasks come next day😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  NOT so long ago, WHEN Apple releases the latest iPhone, the high-end storage is 64gb.  Today, even a 1TB storage is pretty much normal.  WHAT this tells us is WHILE storage costs are becoming more affordable, that's the cadence-like strategy even from the OEM's because of the quantum leaps of digital information swarming all over us through the years.  So, HOW's YOUR DIGITAL LIFE???

When Is ENOUGH ENOUGH?

 

HOW often have you splurged on a new phone, a new wristwatch, OR maybe a special pair of shoes, and then, weeks later, it feels ordinary  OR worst, you're NOT even using it?  WHY this happens to almost anyone of us is something more puzzling than we could have thought of.  I myself I've been through a hell lots of frenzied UPs and DOWNs, especially those 'UPs' where we'll declare that we seem to be walking in 'Cloud 9'?  So, WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH???

In Psychology, the experts have came up with the HEDONIC ADAPTATION theory, that psychological concept WHEREIN people tend to return to a stable baseline level of happiness after experiencing major positive OR negative life events.  And those rare phenomenons would explain WHY significant life changes [LIKE getting a job promotion, having your new spanking car OR even winning a major LOTTO purse name it], all of these will initially cause either a surge OR dip in our levels of happiness💥💥💥

And a consistent observation is that those surges OR dips would eventually fade over time [most of the time within the near term] and eventually we would adjust those new circumstances and return to our personal level aptly termed by experts as 'HAPPINESS SET POINT'.  Perplexing ASK to us is this:  WHY DO WE GET USED TO THE THINGS WE THOUGHT WOULD MAKE US HAPPY?  It might seem LIKE after getting WHAT you want, we reach into that so called 'adaptation-level' phenomenon, that term describing HOW we humans become insensitive to new stimuli and quickly readjust to an emotional baseline💚💛💜

WHICH simply explains as to WHY the stimulus needed to create an emotion needs to be more intense than the last/most previous stimulus in order for someone to feel its effect.  Imagine a kid WHO's craving for an ice cream and you surprise him with an extra scoop.  That will excite him at that point in time.  Come next time, try buying him the same ice cream with that same extra scoop, I'll bet that kid will NOT get excited anymore.  Instead, maybe you offer an extra toppings like 'cookies and cream' etc.  To piggy-back on the jargons in Psychology, hedonic consumption [that practice of people purchasing goods OR services for pleasure [once their basic needs get fulfilled] and hedonic value [WHICH refers to the personal value based on the pleasure derived from something that a person places on something😌😌😌

Our takeaway:  Various researchers have attempted to examine that hedonic treadmill phenomenon and have even attempted to determine HOW MUCH our happiness is really under our control.  And here comes the 50/40/10 RULE FOR HAPPINESS which tells us that a full 50% of our happiness set-point is due to genetics WHILE 10% is affected primarily by circumstances LIKE WHERE we were born and to WHOM.  That leaves 40% that is subject to our influence.  HOW much and HOW we sway and swing with that 40% variable becomes our call dude!!!