The Hedonic Treadmill: Satisfaction Fades
Discover why satisfaction fades quickly and how modern life accelerates hedonic adaptation.
The Experience of Going Through Motions
The experience of going through motions often carries efficiency without presence.
Actions happen because they are next, not because they matter.
Naming procedural living separates function from failure.
The system can continue without demanding emotional engagement or significance from every step.
Notice motion without meaning in DojoWell.
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Articles exploring the psychology behind these patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m just "going through the motions." Isn't that a bad way to live?
Not during the Hollowness Arc. This is "Procedural Living." It is the ability to maintain your habits and duties even when the "spark" is absent. This is a sign of Mechanical Resilience. We name it "without alarm" because "the motions" are the scaffolding that keeps your life together while your meaning-centers are resting.
When will I stop "just going through the motions"?
When your Metabolic Surplus returns. For now, the "motions" are enough. By validating the procedural, you stop the Critic from telling you that you're being "fake." You aren't being fake; you are being Durable. You are keeping the "ship" moving until the wind returns to the sails.