This short note is about how our motivation and perceived happiness is related to how we are preset to certain mood outcomes and appraisals of our experience. And how that affects our motivation and behavior toward goals. The origins for much of our thoughts on this come from the early Greek philosophers, and the term hedonic. Which means basically that we seek pleasure and avoid pain. To learn more go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_motivation.
From past experience, and memory, we develop a complicated set of "expectations". "This is going to be great or this is going to hurt." Positive 'anticipations' or 'dread'. When an experience exceeds our expectations that 'bonus' makes us happy. When expectations are not met we feel disappointed and dissatisfied. This then affects future decisions, motivations, plans and behavior and, over time, is supposed to help us maximize pleasure and minimize pain. It also determines the development of our optimism vs pessimism mindset, excited vs cynical.
A very multilayered topic I know, but do this exercise. Just before an activity, a meeting, a phone call, a meal, a conversation or anything else just take a second and ask yourself what you expect to happen. What is your 'prediction'? Ask yourself what you would actually like to happen, your preference. "How would Iike this to go?" Then see how successfully and intentionally you can work toward creating or navigating your experience as far in the direction of your preferences as possible. After the experience, the moment, then follow up and ask yourself how you did, how much you were able to exercise some control of your experience and its outcome.
From past experience, and memory, we develop a complicated set of "expectations". "This is going to be great or this is going to hurt." Positive 'anticipations' or 'dread'. When an experience exceeds our expectations that 'bonus' makes us happy. When expectations are not met we feel disappointed and dissatisfied. This then affects future decisions, motivations, plans and behavior and, over time, is supposed to help us maximize pleasure and minimize pain. It also determines the development of our optimism vs pessimism mindset, excited vs cynical.
A very multilayered topic I know, but do this exercise. Just before an activity, a meeting, a phone call, a meal, a conversation or anything else just take a second and ask yourself what you expect to happen. What is your 'prediction'? Ask yourself what you would actually like to happen, your preference. "How would Iike this to go?" Then see how successfully and intentionally you can work toward creating or navigating your experience as far in the direction of your preferences as possible. After the experience, the moment, then follow up and ask yourself how you did, how much you were able to exercise some control of your experience and its outcome.
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