Fill in the blank, “Once I have _____, I’ll finally be happy.”

A previous audit guest, Taylor, would have said $600,000 in the bank. He wanted to travel with his girlfriend, but he felt he needed that number before he could let himself enjoy life.

Past me filled in the blank with one million followers. When I got there, the happiness lasted about as long as a bag of chips on a road trip. A few chips down the gullet, one glorious “ahhh,” and my brain was already asking, “Got more?” Back in went the chopsticks. Yes, I eat chips with chopsticks. I have 99 problems, but greasy fingers ain’t one.

This is hedonic adaptation, popularly known as the hedonic treadmill, in action. You get something you wanted, feel great about it, then get used to it. Your happiness often drifts toward its familiar baseline. Think about the newest phone you got. Now it’s just your phone. Or the raise you were so excited about. A few months later, you’re already thinking about the next one.

This can happen after negative experiences, too. The disappointment of a rejection or a setback often softens as we adjust. That doesn’t mean every hardship fades or everyone returns to exactly the same baseline. But we’re remarkably good at getting used to things we thought would change everything.

Knowing this, you might think the answer is to stop wanting things. NO! Good luck with that. I still want a successful business. You’re allowed to want a nicer house, a promotion, or a holographic card that costs more than your rent.

Here’s one patch. Author, Arthur Brooks, offers a more practical approach: become less attached to getting the things you want. His “reverse bucket list” exercise asks you to write down your wants and practice loosening their hold on you. For each one, try telling yourself: I’d like this, but my happiness doesn’t have to wait until I get it. You can pursue the goal without making it a requirement for enjoying your life.

The Rich Nerd lesson: write down your money goals and what you expect each one to change. Paying off debt can reduce stress. Savings can give you options. But look closely at any goal carrying the promise, “Then I’ll finally be happy, or can take a break, or will be less stressed.”

Taylor wanted to travel with his girlfriend. I wanted to build a business I enjoyed. Somewhere along the way, we started putting conditions on when we could enjoy those things. And we could always invent another condition (thanks brain).

Here’s the question I’d leave you with: What are you putting off until you have more, and could you afford to enjoy some version of it today?

— Imran