This One Piece of Advice Will Change Your Life Forever
Learning This Lesson Changed My Life For The Better
Takeaway: Science shows that experiences bring happiness, not material goods. Do things, don’t buy things.
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The 1 Piece of Advice That’ll Change Your Life Forever
As a fitness coach, I’ve gained some of the most powerful insights into my life, and life in general, during casual chatting with folks in between sets at the gym.
Here is one of the most powerful lessons I ever learned from a client in between sets of push-ups:
Do things, don’t buy things.
It immediately struck me as so simple, and yet so profound.
The woman who gave me this advice had just returned from an adventurous trip to Africa. She was reeling in excitement as she shared stories of lioness’ hunting gazelle, and a giraffe giving birth. She definitely got the “circle of life” experience.
It turns out that research backs up this wisdom.
When we buy material things, they are exciting for a while. However, the novelty eventually wears out and it becomes our new “normal.” Researchers call this, Hedonic Adaptation: when material objects become just another part of our normal life.
I bet you have clothes in your closet that you were so excited to buy, but now hardly ever notice just collecting dust.
The first few rides in your new car were very exciting, but now you don’t even think about it. Or even worse, that once new car now brings anxiety at the thought of costly repairs and maintenance.
On the other hand, how many of your vacations still hold a special place in your heart? Can you recall those precious moments that got your heart pumping full of joy and life?
Recalling positive memories gives us a little hit of that original joy.
Skydiving, running with the bulls in Spain, or tearing it up in Nashville with friends for my 30th Birthday. Any time I get to share these stories I get a moment to relive them, as if I’m there experiencing the emotions all over again.
The novelty of material things fades over time, but the emotional response to having new and exciting experiences lasts forever. These positive emotions are reproduced every time we think about these experiences.
Doing things creates wonderful memories to look back on and relive, while buying things just empties your wallet.
I urge you to do some reflection this week. Ask yourself, “what frivolous things have I spent money on lately?” What events, places, or people are you dying to visit but can’t seem to find the time or money to do them?
Since I was first given this advice I’ve all but stopped buying people material gifts. Instead, I try to buy them an experience — an activity they’ve wanted to try or a place they’ve wanted to go.
Science shows that experiences bring happiness, not material goods.
And so, just as it was shared with me, I pass along to you the wisdom of experiences.
Do things, don’t buy things.
~ Coach Alex