The Psychology of Treadmills and Purpose

The concept of treadmills in psychology symbolizes the continuous pursuit of happiness through different means such as spending, saving, or achievement, leading to temporary satisfaction that dissipates quickly due to habituation. Tying one's sense of purpose to achieving goals can result in feelings of emptiness and the constant need to set higher bars, perpetuating a cycle of never-ending pursuit. True fulfillment lies in finding joy in activities for the process itself rather than the outcome, like podcasting, which can provide a sense of purpose as long as the enjoyment in the activity persists, unlike setting specific achievement goals that may lead to feelings of failure, emptiness, or loss aversion, ultimately detracting from one's well-being and mental health.