Step Off the Hedonic Treadmill

Step Off the Hedonic Treadmill 🏃‍♂️💨

(Your kids will appreciate it later!)

Lately, gifting--especially for kids--feels like it’s getting out of hand.

Birthday blowouts. Piles of presents. Multiple celebrations. It’s easy to get caught up in doing more. But less can be more.

Why?

Because of something called the Hedonic Treadmill.

| As our income increases, so do our expectations and desires.

But here’s the kicker: we end up spending more to maintain those higher expectations--without actually feeling any happier in the long run.

It’s a trap that starts early, and if we’re not mindful, we subtly pass it down to our kids.

✨ Instead of blindly chasing more, what if we focused on mindful contentment?

✨ What if we taught our kids that joy doesn’t always have to come wrapped or getting this and that?

✨ What if we ourselves stopped trying to “keep up” and started choosing *enough*?

Another benefit: getting off the Hedonic Treadmill oftentimes means you’ll avoid spending extra money, which is music to my financial advising and counseling ears ;)

📸: That’s me in the red sweater at age 13. One gift. A bowl of potato chips. And I was happy (smirk included). Thanks Mom and Dad (William Ouyang)!

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At Empower Wealth Counseling , I help early and mid-career professionals work toward Financial Independence—the point at which your investments can cover your living expenses for 30+ years.

When you step off the Hedonic Treadmill, you start walking your own path.

Want to find your version of enough? Let’s talk.

📌 Two ways to work together:

🎯 Focus Sessions – A 4-week 1-on-1 deep dive into a topic of your choice

🧭 The Empower Complete Plan – A 6-month journey to align your finances with your goals

📅 Schedule a free intro call: https://www.empowerwealthcounseling.com/services-pricing

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