“If their utopia came into being they would still find something to complain about. There is no pleasing some people regardless of rosette colour. Humans are a strange beast.”
I made this statement half in jest, but it holds a deeper truth worth exploring. Why is it that, even when we get what we say we want, we often end up dissatisfied?
The Hedonic Treadmill
Psychologists call this tendency the hedonic treadmill. The idea is simple: no matter what happens—good or bad—we usually return to a baseline level of happiness. Win the lottery and after a year or two you’re no happier than before. Lose your job and, after an adjustment period, you’re usually no less happy than before.
Humans adapt frighteningly quickly. What felt like a huge improvement yesterday soon becomes the new normal today. And once it’s normal, we start spotting flaws, inconveniences, or new problems. The treadmill keeps moving, and we keep walking, never quite arriving.
Politics and Perpetual Discontent
You can see this play out in politics. A party wins an election on promises of change. Supporters cheer, opponents despair. But within months, the complaints begin. The rosette may be red, blue, yellow, or green—it makes little difference. Human nature kicks in. We adjust to the change, then shift our focus to what’s still wrong.
This is why some people seem permanently unsatisfied. Even if their “utopia” came into being, it wouldn’t be long before they found the next thing to grumble about.
How Leaders, Sellers and Preachers Exploit It
The treadmill would be harmless enough if it only meant we moaned at dinner tables. But clever people in positions of influence have learned to weaponise it.
- Politicians: They promise change knowing that dissatisfaction will always resurface. When it does, they simply point at the “other side” and say, “See? You need us again.” It keeps the cycle of power turning.
- Advertising: Marketers thrive on the treadmill. The product that thrilled you last year is now “outdated.” A shinier, faster, slimmer version is dangled in front of you. Satisfaction is always just one purchase away—but never lasting.
- Religion (all stripes): Many faiths tap into the same psychology. Earthly life is never enough; true fulfilment is always promised somewhere else—heaven, enlightenment, paradise—so long as you stay loyal, keep believing, keep giving.
In every case, the restless human mind is nudged along the treadmill, urged to keep running toward an ever-receding goal.
The Strange Beast Called Human
It might sound cynical, but it’s really just recognition of what we are. Humans are restless creatures. Our dissatisfaction drives innovation, reform, and creativity—but it also drives division, complaint, and endless argument.
How to Step Off the Treadmill
If we know we’re being nudged along this endless loop of dissatisfaction, the natural question is: what can we do about it? We can’t rewrite human nature, but we can be more conscious of how it’s being used against us. A few simple principles help:
- Pause Before Buying: When tempted by the “latest” product, ask: Do I need this, or am I just chasing the feeling of newness?
- Question the Promise: Whether it’s a politician, an advert, or a preacher, ask: Is what they’re offering genuinely possible—or just another carrot to keep me running?
- Notice the Baseline: Remind yourself that satisfaction fades naturally. It’s not always because something’s “wrong”—it’s just the treadmill doing what it does.
- Practice Gratitude: Taking stock of what already is good interrupts the cycle. The treadmill slows when you stop to look around.
- Share Perspective: Talk about this openly. The more people recognise the pattern, the less power it has. Manipulation works best when it’s invisible.
We may never escape our restless wiring, but we can learn to stop being dragged by it. Recognising the treadmill is the first step; refusing to let others exploit it is the second.
“Hope isn’t what they promise you. It’s how you carry on when they don’t deliver.” — Dave Carrera
