Hedonic Adaptation

A fancy way of saying that no matter what happens, your happiness will always settle back to the same level.

As an engineer, it’s easy to keep chasing the next big thing - learning new languages, trying out the latest tools, or switching fields just because they seem exciting.

At first, learning something new feels great.

But that excitement fades, and you start looking for the next thing.

The same goes for when you make a mistake - you feel bad, but soon you’re okay again.

This is your mind’s way of keeping you steady.

But if you keep chasing happiness through new skills or gadgets, it’s like running on a treadmill - no matter how fast you go, you never really move forward.

So, here’s a note to young engineers:

Appreciate what you already know.
Stop thinking the next new thing will make you happy.
Pick one big thing you enjoy and dive deep into it.

Find joy in the little wins, like solving a bug or finishing a project.

Peace is closer than you think.

Originally shared on LinkedIn