Think about the last thing you bought that truly excited you — a new phone, a pair of shoes, a piece of furniture. Now think about how long that excitement lasted. A few days? A week? Compare that to the last great experience you had — a road trip with friends, a memorable dinner, a concert that gave you chills.
Chances are, the memory of that experience still brings a smile to your face.
Dr. Thomas Gilovich , a psychology professor at Cornell University who studies the topic, explained the phenomenon in an interview with Fast Company .
Research suggests that experiences tend to create deeper, longer-lasting happiness than material possessions.
While things may be exciting at first, their emotional impact quickly diminishes. Experiences, however, continue to enrich our lives through memory and meaning.
What makes experiences so durable is the way they live on in our minds. They remain vivid and often grow sweeter over time through reflection and storytelling.
You might not remember exactly what you got for your birthday three years ago, but you probably remember the surprise party your friends threw or the weekend getaway you took to celebrate.
The happiness that comes from experiences doesn’t just happen in the moment, either. The excitement of planning an event or adventure builds happiness before it even happens.
And later, recalling that experience continues to trigger positive emotions. The pleasure from a purchase, by contrast, tends to peak quickly and fade.
Amit Kumar , a co-author of a 2014 study on the relationship between happiness, material goods, and experiences alongside Gilovich, illustrated this distinction in an interview with The Atlantic .
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