Dr. Laurie Santos

So let's say you're really obsessed with getting a promotion.

So let's say you're really obsessed with getting a promotion.

Oh my God, I just want to get this promotion at work so I get this new salary, right?

Oh my God, I just want to get this promotion at work so I get this new salary, right?

Tying yourself to that goal is...

Tying yourself to that goal is...

Not great, right?

Not great, right?

Because first of all, you're tying all your happiness to like whether you get it or not.

Because first of all, you're tying all your happiness to like whether you get it or not.

Maybe you'll get it, great, but not that great because as we just talked about with hedonic adaptation, it won't feel as good as you expect for very long.

Maybe you'll get it, great, but not that great because as we just talked about with hedonic adaptation, it won't feel as good as you expect for very long.

And you're probably expecting it to be really awesome because you're miswanting and all of a sudden, oh, it's not as great as I thought.

And you're probably expecting it to be really awesome because you're miswanting and all of a sudden, oh, it's not as great as I thought.

So even if you get it, it's a letdown.

So even if you get it, it's a letdown.

But of course you might not get it, right?

But of course you might not get it, right?

And then there's no happiness.

And then there's no happiness.