Meditations On Leadership
These are my thoughts on leadership related topics and ideas. It is meant to be a sort of journal for me and if you find it useful than I am happy to have helped.
"One key to happiness is to forestall the [hedonic] adaptation process: We need to take steps to prevent ourselves from taking for granted, once we get them, the things we worked so hard to get.” - William B. Irvine Hedonic Adaptation is also known as the Hedonic Treadmill. Here is a quick definition from Wikipedia: "The observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. According to this theory, as a person makes more money, expectations and desires rise in tandem, which results in no permanent gain in happiness." Basically what Hedonic Adaptation means is that no matter how much money, drugs, experiences, likes on Facebook, or retweets you get you will adapt to it and your level of happiness will return to your normal level. It also says the same is true with the reverse, no matter what bad happens to you your mind will adapt and your level of happiness will return to it's base level. I'm not going to argue on whether or not it is real. To some extent I believe it is real. I have seen people come into money, get really happy, and then sink emotionally lower. I do think that the strategy for combating Hedonic Adaptation presented in the book A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine has some merit. The strategy is called Negative Visualization and it seems a little counter intuitive but I think you should give it a shot before you knock it. How Negative Visualization works is you imagine your life without some good thing that you have now. For example, you can imagine your life without your money, job, house, car, etc. Now, you're not supposed to do this constantly, you are just supposed to do it occasionally so that you can appreciate what you have now. I find that it helps me have a better sense of gratitude and it also helps me live more in the moment. For example, sometimes I think about how my kids will grow up and tonight as I was carrying my daughter to her bed I felt so grateful that I get to cherish this time that I have with her at this age. Not only do I feel like I am enjoying the time I have with my kids more than I was before, I also feel like I will look back on my life with them with less regret because I am enjoying my time with them more fully and not missing out on opportunities to be with them. Leadership LessonAs leader and as a person your personal happiness and well being is important. No matter how good or bad things are you can control your inner happiness, at least to some extent. Take time to learn how to live in the moment and appreciate what you have now. It will help you develop gratitude and prevent regret in the future.
1 Comment
Craig Roberts
7/15/2021 12:24:29 pm
I find this technique useful. Thanks for sharing it. Just imagine--if I didn't have internet and this device, I wouldn't be enjoying your ideas in this way. I'm grateful that I have the opportunity.
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AuthorJ. LaVarr Roberts Archives
April 2021
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