We’ve talked on this show about lots of ways we can be happier over time, but one of the hardest things to do is how to STAY happy as the events of life wash over us. On today’s episode of Being Well, Forrest and I consider the human tendency to return to the same basic level of happiness regardless of recent positive or negative experiences – also known as hedonic adaptation – and how to contend with it so we can get off the hedonic treadmill.

• 0:00: Introduction
• 2:25: What is hedonic adaptation?
• 6:25: Three factors of happiness
• 9:45: Survey of various research on hedonic adaptation and subjective well-being
• 19:55: Financial circumstances and relationships
• 27:35: How to sustain happiness – loving, knowing, growing
• 38:15: The single most effective intervention to hedonic adaptation
• 41:30: Forrest’s take on how lasting change happens
• 45:00: Antidote experiences and improving memory
• 47:50: Can we actually become happier?
• 51:00: Recap