09/02/2026
I read this weeks ago on threads and I just suddenly remembered na isheshare ko sana to my friends kaso nakalimutan ko na hahaha. THIS IS WORTH READING, I PROMISE!!
So yung idea ng Hedonic Treadmill principle is basically how our brain is wired to adapt. Na kahit gaano kaganda or kapangit yung nangyayari satin, may tendency tayo na bumalik sa default level of happiness after some time. Like if mapromote sa work, makabili ng new phone, magkajowa and even tragedies sa life natin, we always return sa baseline level of happiness.
When something good happens, our brain releases dopamine. That’s why everything feels exciting and euphoric at first. Pero our brain is efficient. Once something becomes familiar, it stops reacting the same way. Yung dati mong goal or pangarap nagiging "NORMAL" na lang. Kaya may moment na mapapatanong tayo "ito na yon????!!"
Same thing sa pain. Kapag may heartbreak or failure feeling mo hindi ka na magiging okay ever again. Pero slowly, your nervous system adjusts. You laugh again. You function again. Hindi dahil magaan lang yung nangyari kundi dahil resilient tayo by design.
The problem starts when we misinterpret this paradox. We reach that moment na “Ah, di pala sapat to. Kailangan ko pa ng next goal.” So we chase again. And again. And again. More money, more achievements, more validation. Parang treadmill, pagod ka na pero hindi ka talaga umaabante emotionally.
That’s why kahit may mga taong successful na, may emptiness pa rin silang nafifeel. Kasi external wins don’t permanently raise your happiness baseline. They just give temporary spikes.
So ano yung actually nakakapagshift ng baseline? Gratitude, perspective, relationships, purpose.
And the point? If you don't learn how to shift your baseline happiness upwards, kahit anong maachieve mo, never magiging enough.
And maybe that's one of the harsh truths in life, na you don't get off the treadmill by running faster, you get off by realizing you don't need to keep running at all.
Ang ganda lang no? Parang gentle reminder na life isn’t about reaching a finish line, it’s about learning how to be present where you already are 🌱