People are happy when they're buying

The real reason for people getting things they don’t really need, is that they aren’t happy when they’re not buying stuff.

That’s the core, in short. But there’s more.

Of course in every hobbies that people often buy new gears for, there’s the dopamine hit of exploring potential new purchases, unboxing new toys etc.

We think we’re “upgrading the tools” but it’s really about “what could I have next” and never appreciating “what I already have”. It’s a never ending hedonic treadmill.

Why do we drink coffee? We want to savor the MOMENT. It’s supposed to be an enjoyable, grounding sensory ritual. But when it comes to getting new gears, new houses, new jobs, new partners, we think the next thing would finally make us happy once and for all. We never stopped just a bit to look at what we’re mistaking better fall for the optimization trap, imagining “the better version of ourselves is over there”

It’s ok to look for improvements when you can healthily afford it, but it’s another thing if you rely on the illusion of improving external conditions to make yourself feel good.