On The Diminishing Returns Of Life
Yasser Khan
Yasser Khan | On The Diminishing Return Of Life
You’ve stopped cherishing a loved one you say?
And don’t bother telling me not to take things for granted! That statement is a bit of an oxymoron, considering our minds are wired that way!
So before I dive right in, answer this question.
How did you feel the first time you bit that favourite chocolate of yours?
Did you taste bliss?
Let me describe it for you.
The first soft, bite into that dark chocolatey mass oozed warmth and melting sweetness into your mouth, then all too-suddenly your tongue lapped it all up onto itself and your throat reflexively drank it down in greedy anticipation of the next morsel.
But when you took the next bite, what happened?
…
Not as relishing?
Feeling full already on the third one?
And on the fourth, the cloying sweetness starts feeling a little bit too much.
Forget about eating the next choc bar for now.
Your mind (and your taste buds) need rest!
That, my friend, was the Law of Diminishing Returns in action.
To use biological processes to describe what happens when you eat that chocolate, our neurons fire up with frenetic activity the first time our brains recognise a new but ‘familiar’ sensation.
There-in lies the ‘problem’.
In our brains and nerves, tiny molecules have the capacity for ‘cellular memory’ in the form of ‘lock and key’ structures and chain-processes. Continued stimulations of neurotransmitters, the most basic process of electrical stimulation in our nervous system, has a dulling effect on our ability to perceive our senses.
Ever noticed after staying in a house by the highway, your ears get used to the noise and you can now sleep peacefully? That experience is akin to the experience of lessened pleasure of eating chocolate, and more seriously, in relationships, habits and emotions.
In finance, you see it manifesting in the steadily falling profitability of giant companies once they’ve reached a given level’s worth of market capitalisation.
Your thrill of buying that brand-new car fades after a few months of thrilling rides and serene escapades.
In your job, you see it in the falling of enthusiasm and satisfaction, which you can’t place as you still remember your first, exciting day of work.
You could in fact, conjure up hundreds of scenarios you couldn’t grasp at all back when they happened.
But they did, ALL the time!
Instead of telling yourself to not take things for granted, realize that this phenomenon is actually a part of your make up. Only when you have realised this consciously, you will be able to see it for what it truly is, rather than entertaining myopic viewpoints characteristic of destructive self-censure and pointless contrition.
With awareness comes a natural shift towards change.
This is the point where you will get down to changing your emotional processes of complacency.
One way you could counter this ‘laziness of the mind’ is by engaging in the mental activity of pursuing new experiences. By continually trying out new things, thought-processes, experiences, activities and habits, you will forge your single greatest defence against yourself; never settling for the status quo.
Like the restless traveller on a mission to see all the wonders of the world on a limited time-frame, you will remove the very repetitiveness of familiarity that bred your complacency in the first place.
With that said, you can now bring to fruition a new perspective to life in general.
The Law of Diminishing Returns in action.
Did you suspect something like this happening to you too? Had your Aha! and Deja vu moments? Now you know! Share this post with your Twitter and FB friends by clicking on the share buttons.
To Your Unstoppable Success,
Nov 10th 2010
Yasser!
Uh, I think you refer to the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility (with pleasure being the utility we derive from something), don’t you?
I’m sorry. I agree with your point. Actually, I can’t even disagree since it’s a law. It happens, whether we like it or not. I just wanted to straighten some facts, if there is anything that needs to be straightened here. As as far as I know the Law of Diminishing Returns is actually used in the concept in production wherein returns refer to your output as you input something in the process. The Diminishing Returns happens when, ceteris paribus, you increase the amount of one particular factor of production, and then, surprisingly, instead of the marginal output increasing it will actually decrease and hence, the diminishing returns.
But I like the way you related the idea to life and relationships. That’s exactly how I apply the idea in my classes. Thanks!
Mark
Nov 10th 2010
Yes that’s about right. Thanks Mark.
Jan 2nd 2011
Nice post! Thanks for commenting on my blog page man! I’ll message you again! I didn’t realise that!
Jun 29th 2011
Hi Yasser,
Firstly, I want to be very honest with you, that I find your English is very powerful and this reminds me of my friends who are always using jargon in their correspondence but the difference here, I have to point out to you, is that your way of writing makes me think that you must be a fiction book writer but I know you are not !
I read each and every sentences you wrote and at the same time, it makes my imagination runs wild, yeah!
I love this post, Yasser !
And again, I have to be frank that I did not understand the Law of Diminishing Returns until I read your examples and explanations on different situations.
So, I agree with this concept and would say it is very true, because I can relate to what you mentioned about countering “laziness in mind”… I have experienced that but I didn’t get the momentum back instantly ! It will probably take me at least few hours to reenergize myself
Excellent post and I am happy I always pick up tips from your blog, Yasser!
Thanks and Cheers
Pearly
Jun 29th 2011
Hey Pearly!
Wow!
As usual, you’re overly generous with your praises. Lol!
Glad to be giving out valuable nuggets on abstract concepts…
5 smileys, and still counting!!
Yasser Khan
Jun 29th 2011
Hi Yasser!
Wow..
Now I know there’s a name for what happens to me!
You mean I’m not crazy?
It’s a natural phenomenon, and as you say if you plan on it, and anticipate the diminishing returns, you can look to other things to get over that hump!
Really brilliant.
I have seen this a lot in mlm and direct sales. We sponsor people, and they are very excited for about 3 weeks, and then “reality” sets in, OR the novelty wears off!
We have anticipated this by warning our people that they will feel this way, and we give them tools to get past that rough patch, like a buddy system, a challenge, or other participation support.
Not feeling alone is a big one.
Thanks Yasser!
Laura Morris
Jun 29th 2011
Hi Laura!
Crazy? Of course not!
Yeah, keep up the novelty factor, and your sustain the interest, and curiosity.
Yasser Khan
Jul 6th 2011
Yasser,
Your post reminds me of the things I have posted on the wall to remind me of sayings or points of view.
After a while they need changing because they become like wall paper and disappear.
I think it might be the same way with our money set point as T. Have Eker puts it. In this respect change is good.
So, Yasser, let me know when the shooting range is open for business.
RICK
Jul 16th 2011
Yasser,
I found you style of writing different. I was wondering reading it. Where is this guy going with all this stuff.
Well, you amazed me. I believe and agree, that when we first get involved with anything based on emotion. That being, excitement controlling our every heartbeat activity. Man, your so right with that floating feeling. Enjoyment at it’s highest level.
Yasser, I have a been blessed with my environment being exciting everyday. Can you imagine living every day with such excitment. It’s like a roller coaster ride daily. All day we are traveling and getting things done for others. Speaking with excited people all day. This is how it feels within our group. Nothing buy passion and empowerment.
This is a feeling I wish to share daily with everyone who I have been fortunate to come in contact with. Most, people think our team is crazy and full of to much energy. Please, we love and have a passion for our choice of daily task. We choose when and how things will be accomplished. That is the freedom and difference of working and being a person that only needs to do things that make them happy. Things that benefit all in the team daily. Things that have no time limit, only the ones we as a group chooses.
Yasser, I thank sharing this valued information. It does answer allot of questions your reader had before reading this amazing article. I look forward in my next visit. I know it will be a learning experience.
Jul 22nd 2011
Yasser,
I like your law of diminishing returns as a way to remind myself to create new experiences with some of my closest friends, and especially my wife and kids.
That’s why, as my wife says, it’s so important for us to go on vacation and try new things: it creates memories that we can look back on for a lifetime.
Steve
Jul 22nd 2011
Hi Yasser,
You certainly described the reality well, I’m just not so sure about your recommended solution… that is, pursue new experiences.
While the upside is that you can be stimulated by something new… that is gain the pleasure of those first few bites of chocolate, the downside might be developing into a quitter who never quite finishes a task because it isn’t “fun” anymore.
So another possible response could be to persevere until the final reward. I am applying your article to entrepreneurship and its many avenues of pursuit.
Jul 25th 2011
Yassar,
That law of diminishing returns does not always work as it should, or as quickly as it should.
Your example of chocolate – one piece does not often lead to less interest.
In fact, sometimes I intend to just have one piece and end up continuing to take one piece after another.
But that happens even more easily with certain delicious foods, e.g., rigatoni alla vodka, ice cream with chocolate fudge and nuts and whipped cream, garlic mashed potatoes.
Even in relationships, when one partner is distant, hard to get, frustrating to deal with, sometimes we crave that person’s attention and love more and more over time.
What we crave is novelty. So in a long term relationship that seems to be getting stale, a new adventure, a bit a danger and excitement, can bring back the passion.
Erica
Jul 27th 2011
Great post, Yasser!
I think that you are right in many ways about what happens with the law of diminishing returns.
However, I think that it is important to know what is happening in this law.
This is why some people have the infamous “seven year itch” (although I’ve heard an argument that it’s really closer to four years now) where people start to look for something new.
This is a time where we’ve got to understand what is happening and look more for long term than the quick fix.
However, you are right about doing things that mentally stimulate us so we don’t tire as easily.
Jul 27th 2011
Hi Yasser,
This law is the reason why I can’t understand how people used to work in just one job for 40 years or more. They must’ve been so bored.
And, I guess they thought they didn’t have a choice!
I wish you hadn’t described that chocolate so well Yasser, I’ve been on a lemon detox diet for the last 7 days, and I just want to eat something!
Funny how after being on the diet, my taste buds are VERY sensitive and everything I eat tastes like I’ve never tasted it before.
Can’t wait until tomorrow!
bye for now,
Julieanne