Hello! I'm your friend, a financial journalist and economist.
Today, we're going to discuss an article from "Xiao Gai Fun" that might seem like it's about life philosophy at first glance, even a bit like motivational advice. But if you look at it through the lenses of economics and sociology, you'll realize it's actually a in-depth analysis of an "economic model of human happiness."
The author makes a very sharp point: Treating "comfort" and "pleasure" as the ultimate goals in life is a mistaken direction from an economic perspective because it ignores the law of diminishing marginal utility and fails to protect us from risks.
Below, I'll break down the article into five key aspects in plain language, showing you why "lying flat" (avoiding effort) might not be the best option and why "creation" is the ultimate weapon for ordinary people to combat anxiety.
---
The Trap of Hedonism: Why More Comfort Leads to More emptiness?
Many people imagine their ideal life as earning enough money, then retiring to spend days basking in the sun, listening to the sea, and daydreaming. In economics, this is called a "static equilibrium."
The author cites Schopenhauer, pointing out a huge logical flaw: Pain and boredom are the two extremes of life, and "comfort" is just a temporary balance in between.
Imagine you just had a big meal; you feel happy at that moment. But if you only eat that one meal for the next month, your happiness will quickly decline, eventually turning into numbness and even boredom due to the lack of stimulation. This is the "law of diminishing marginal utility."
- Simple explanation: Happiness is like eating candy. The first piece is sweet, the second is okay, the third starts to be annoying, and by the fourth, you might want to vomit. If you define your life as constantly eating candy, what you end up with is not sweetness, but diabetes and a loss of taste.
- Real-life example: Why do many wealthy heirs or retired executives become depressed after achieving financial freedom? Because when the "pressure to survive" (pain) disappears, "lack of meaning" (boredom) immediately fills the void. The brain needs input, and if that input is repetitive and low-intensity (like just going on vacation), it can quickly become ineffective or cause problems.
So, when the author says the beach is a "boredom trap," it's not that beaches are bad, but that you can't rely on passively receiving happiness as the main way to live your life.
The Two Types of Happiness: Hedonism vs. Eudaimonia
The article introduces a scientific perspective from Steve Cole, a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience, and immunology in the United States. He divides happiness into two types of "currency" with completely different exchange rates and value retention abilities in the body:
1. Hedonic Well-being:
- Sources: Delicious food, sex, shopping, traveling, massages.
- Characteristics: It comes quickly and goes quickly. It depends on external conditions (money, free time, good health).
- Risks: This is a "vulnerable asset." If you encounter misfortune (illness, bankruptcy, a breakup), this type of happiness can collapse instantly, and the resulting pain (stress response) can be doubled because you've relied on it too much.
2. Eudaimonic Well-being:
- Sources: Learning new skills, helping others, creating works, pursuing truth.
- Characteristics: It's deeper, more lasting, and more resilient to risks.
- Advantages: This is a "core asset." Studies show that people who pursue self-actualization have healthier gene expression patterns. When you shift your focus from "am I happy?" to "am I growing/contributing?", your immune system becomes stronger, and you gain more resilience in the face of external challenges.
- Simple explanation:
Hedonic happiness is like cash in your account—fun to spend, but it doesn't last, and it can be easily wiped out by unexpected events. Eudaimonic happiness is like high-quality stocks or real estate; it may not feel as exciting, but it generates returns and provides stability during tough times.
The Brain's "Hunger Mechanism": Why Do We Need "Trouble"?
The author mentions that the biggest enemies of humans are pain and boredom. When pain disappears, the brain doesn't stop working; it actively seeks stimulation. People often go to two extremes:
1. Destructive stimulation: Gambling, alcoholism, arguments, infidelity. These are attempts to artificially create dopamine spikes.
2. Constructive stimulation: Studying insects, learning languages, coding, creating products. These create a sense of achievement.
From a neuroscience perspective, the brain needs a certain level of "load." If the load is too low, it causes anxiety; if it's moderate and challenging, it releases endorphins (natural painkillers and happiness boosters).
- Simple explanation: It's like exercising. If you lie around all day (no load), your muscles atrophy, and you feel heavy and depressed. If you lift weights (moderate load), it's painful, but afterward, you feel a deep sense of satisfaction and strength.
The author suggests activities like collecting stamps or studying insects as ways to provide the brain with "structured challenges." These don't require much money but require attention and time, keeping the brain active and avoiding the boredom trap.
The Creator's Mindset: How Ordinary People Can Build a Strong Foundation
This is the most practical and actionable part of the article. The author distinguishes between two types of hobbies:
- Hedonic hobbies: Watching movies, traveling, attending concerts. These are consumption-based. Once you've consumed them, they're gone, and so is the happiness.
- Creative hobbies: Writing articles, creating products, taking photos, managing accounts. These are production-based. Your creations continue to generate value and can even affect others.
The author emphasizes that the ultimate happiness comes from self-actualization, and the only way to achieve this is through creation.
- Why creation is better than consumption?
1. Feedback loop: Consumption is one-way (you -> item), while creation is two-way (you -> creation -> others -> feedback -> you). This interaction brings a sense of social connection and value.
2. Asset accumulation: You might remember only a few movies you've watched, but if you write 100 articles, they become your digital assets that could lead to opportunities in the future.
3. Identity: A person who watches movies is just a viewer; a person who writes reviews is a creator with a more stable identity and better resilience to external evaluations.
- Simple explanation: Think of it like playing a game. A consumer player just focuses on leveling up and enjoys the thrill, but their happiness ends when the game stops or updates. A creator builds something in the game (like a house or writes guides), and even if the game stops, their creation remains, potentially making them a community leader.
The author gives great advice for children: Cultivate hobbies that involve creation, not just for show, but to stay in a state of output. Output is the only way to test your input and achieve deep satisfaction.
The Economic Perspective on Life Optimization: From Maximizing Happiness to Maximizing Meaning
Finally, let's summarize the article from an economic perspective.
Traditional views suggest that the goal of life is to maximize utility (get the most happiness and the least pain). However, modern behavioral economics and positive psychology show this model is outdated.
The new model of life optimization should be:
1. Baseline management: Eliminate basic pains (hunger, cold, extreme poverty) through financial planning. This is essential but not the end goal.
2. Variance management: Develop the ability for self-actualization to reduce dependence on hedonic pleasures and lower life's volatility.
3. Long-term growth: Accumulate intangible assets (skills, creations, reputation, networks) that generate long-term, stable happiness.
Action suggestions for ordinary people (based on the article):
1. Don't pursue constant comfort: Accept discomfort as a sign that your brain is working.
2. Shift from consumer to producer:
- Write a short review after watching a movie.
- Take themed photos during a trip and add a story.
- Draw a mind map while reading and share it with friends.
Even small creations can activate your self-actualization pathways.
3. Find things that are beneficial, interesting, and meaningful:
- Beneficial: Bring some economic value or improve your skills.
- Interesting: You're willing to invest time in them (intrinsic motivation).
- Meaningful: Help others (social value).
Finding the intersection of these three aspects is where your true happiness lies.
In conclusion: Stop seeing life as a game of avoiding pain and pursuing pleasure. Instead, see it as a game of building something that leaves a lasting impact. When you're busy creating, you won't be bored, and your life won't be easily shattered by challenges. This is the real economics of happiness that ordinary people can master.