There are things you want.
You think when you get these things you’ll feel how you want.
Then you get these things and what happens?
Well, it’s “normal” isn’t it you love these things… for a bit.
And then your brain starts thinking about the next thing you need to feel how you want, right?
Next
It’s the same cycle over and over, isn’t it?
Just a different “object” the brain thinks you need to feel what exactly?
What is the feeling we’re all targeting by wanting —>having—>getting things that then fades?
Why does this feeling fade?
What’s going on in us humans that makes it so hard to hold onto the feeling of being “full-filled?”
Have you thought much about this?
Treadmill
I’ve been researching this for 25+ years and it’s taken a lot to untangle.
Psychology talks about this as the hedonic treadmill like your brain keeps moving the goalposts.
They’re not wrong but they are backwards.
Because their craft relies on the conscious brain they fail to see the underlying structure of this treadmill.
It’s never your brain decides you need another bag or shoes or car or drink or home or lover or more money or whatever it is your brain craves.
Nor is it you need to “have perspective” or know “enough is enough.”
Not enough
Never matters what you know.
The feeling of lack is in your body.
And the most accurate way I’ve come to see this is the new thing your brain thinks you want is the brain’s interpretation of what will get the body out of that feeling of lack.
Then you get it.
The feeling of lack goes away for a hot minute.
Then the body reverts back to its “lack programming” because it’s the deepest survival mechanism.
Survival
Same as the negativity bias of the brain and why so many of us live in fear is your survival programming keeping you alive.
Squirrels stack nuts for the winter.
They’re never thinking about being grateful for how many nuts they have or doing the math on exactly how many nuts they need.
Their biology just knows stack up more. The human responding to biology “thinks” more is the answer only to discover it still feels less.
You never fill up holes in your yard by digging a second hole to fill up the first! Same way you never fill up yourself with objects outside of you.
That’s like thinking painting your house red outside makes it warmer inside!
“Full-filled”
Objects satisfy lack for a little.
But until you fill up yourself inside your brain will keep seeking these things outside.
This is the true meaning of being “full-filled.”
You’re no longer seeking these things outside of you for feeling full inside.
Fill up yourself inside and notice how little your brain needs things to feel how you want.