I remember when I first started seeing results from exercise. See, I used to avoid lifting weights because I wasn’t strong enough. But something changed – my friends started complimenting me. Yeah, it boosted my self-esteem.
For some reason my legs grew pretty quickly so I could easily pump out 20 full reps on the leg press. So I set an ambitious goal. This involves performing 315 squats 15 times and squatting at least 5 times without holding the bar.
The day I achieved my goal (the day I felt nothing)
I did that for about two months. I was kind of obsessed with it. Then, one day after work, I said, “I’ll give it a try.” And I crushed it. I couldn’t believe it either. It was easier than I imagined.
But something felt strange.
To be honest, it felt good to have the whole gym watching and congratulating me. For me? It felt like a regular workout. I thought it would be special, but I was a bit indifferent.
You achieve a goal you’ve been pursuing for months, maybe even years, and instead of celebrating that cinematic moment… Did you feel anything? Maybe even a little empty?
What is hedonic adaptation?
Well, it’s not in our heads, and we’re not broken. It actually has a name. Researchers call it this: “Hedonic adaptation” Or the hedonic treadmill.
This basically means that our brains adapt so quickly to every new level or important milestone that what we thought would change everything actually doesn’t. Our happiness returns to “baseline” almost immediately.
No one talks about this. Men in particular are taught that hard work pays off emotionally and physically. So when it doesn’t, we don’t question the system… We ask ourselves questions.
Value the outcome and the journey
Here is the hard truth I had to learn. Emptiness is not a sign that I am ungrateful. It’s a sign that I tie my worth to this result Instead of the person I was becoming in the process.
- The brand deal I wanted won’t fix me.
- The relationships I fought for do not complete me.
- The money I made still couldn’t quiet the noise in my head that something was missing.
The dangerous part? Instead of pausing long enough to question, most of us set another goal to chase that feeling again, this time bigger, harder, and faster. “Why doesn’t any of this turn me on?”
Victory could never save you
This win was to show what we can do. Let’s chew on that for a moment. As with anything, the real work doesn’t start at the finish line.
It starts the moment we stop running long enough to ask ourselves: “What am I actually running towards, or what am I running towards?”
Chase goal. Dream big. Work hard to win. And when that success starts to fade, go back to step 1. Is this the goal or an escape?
I’d like to know if this comes to fruition. Comment below so we can all learn from each other. I read them all one by one.
And if you need a practical way to stay focused. process Instead of just results, try Land Blend to make your daily cooking routine feel like a win, or check out the Fit Men Cook app to track your journey, not just your destination.
best,
kevin
