Why some people feel sad or empty the more successful they become, according to psychology

Money doesn’t buy happiness and you can’t buy peace of mind with fame or notoriety. In fact, that cliché of the businessman who has no time for his family, the famous person who has no privacy, or the millionaire who already has everything, It is the cost of success. Although it is hard to believe, there are people who seem to be The more achievements they accumulate, the further away they feel from achieving personal satisfaction.

This is how the psychologist explains it Thomas Santa Fe “Psychology and Mind”, What may seem like a contradiction is simply the result of human feelings. In fact, according to specialists, there are some Psychology theories This helps to understand why the mind plays this “trick” on those who have earned their hard-earned successes.

Hedonic adaptation theory

Hedonic adaptation talks about the process that people go through They become accustomed to their achievements or devalue themThey do not feel satisfied once they get it. This situation forces the mind to commit to new goals generated by the absence of motivation, but in the end It becomes a cycle that breeds apathy.

According to Thomas Santa, many patients describe this feeling as “loss of motor ability,” but it is simply that Lack of motivation By knowing in advance that there is no emotional reward.

Imposter syndrome

This psychological phenomenon finds its victim in people who… They do not feel worthy of their achievements. It’s the fear that they will eventually be exposed as a “scam”, so they constantly attribute their successes to him Luck or external factors. In this scenario, people with imposter syndrome live in a state of anxiety and self-doubt despite having real accomplishments.

It is also worth noting that this phenomenon usually results Severe perfectionism. They set unattainable goals and criticize themselves harshly for minor mistakes, which reinforces the feeling that they are incompetent.

Materialism

Focusing life on material goods or status competes with three very important needs. on the one hand, Independence, and on the other hand competence and communication with others. This means that when everything revolves around showing what you have or what you deserve, there is no room for deep relationships, nor for making decisions governed by your own values.

Emotional isolation

When a person has a lot of wealth or fame, he easily falls into emotional isolation. Again, it comes down to it The type of connections you formIt’s all very superficial. It is difficult for them to trust, or they believe that those around them are there for who they are and not for what they have, and they do not believe in bonds in which there is real exchange, and for this reason They spend it alone.