We enjoy more than ever—yet feel less satisfied.

 Why can’t we be happy just by “having fun”? On the emptiness of consumption and the joy of creation

We live in an age of consumption. With just a few taps, we can order anything we desire. We swipe through screens to pass the day.

Every platform tells us: “Enjoy the moment.” “You are already enough—just relax.”

But after the ‘rest’ comes fatigue. And a strange emptiness. Why is that?

The Neuroscience of Pleasure: The Dopamine Loop

Our brains are wired to seek pleasure. When we encounter something enjoyable, the brain releases dopamine. But dopamine adapts quickly—we get used to pleasure fast. This is called hedonic adaptation.

→ That designer bag you bought yesterday already feels dull. → That amazing vacation has become just a memory on your feed.

So we crave bigger hits of joy. More frequent highs. This is how pleasure addiction begins. But what happens in the end?

The more we chase pleasure, the less satisfied we become.

 The Emptiness After Enjoyment: Post-Pleasure Depression

Psychologists call it post-pleasure letdown. Common signs include:

• Feeling more tired after “fun”

• Emptiness after spending money

• A sense that “nothing really accumulated” in your life

This is what happens when we mistake stimulation for happiness. Over time, this state leaves us emotionally numb— a hollowed-out shell drifting into self-alienation.

 True Happiness Comes from Meaning — Existential Philosophy

“Man does not live by pleasure, but by meaning.” — Viktor Frankl

“The self realizes itself through action.” — G.W.F. Hegel

We feel truly alive when we act, not when we passively receive. In creating, contributing, and growing, we rediscover the sense of being.

That’s when we can finally say: “I’m alive.”

Positive Psychology: Happiness Is Flow, Not Rest

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, in Flow, said:

“Real happiness doesn’t come from leisure, but from immersion.”

Flow is the state where:

• You lose sense of time

• The self expands

• You are fully connected to the present moment

And here’s the key: Flow occurs more easily in productive activities— → Writing, teaching, exercising, cooking, organizing...

These activities stimulate both focus and fulfillment in the brain.

 The Brain Also Wants to Create

Neuroscientifically speaking, when we engage in creative work, our prefrontal cortex (decision-making) and the default mode network (imagination and self-reflection) work together.

This dual activation allows us to:

• Imagine the future

• Reflect on ourselves

• Envision a better version of who we can become

Creation quite literally pulls us toward our future. And only then can the brain produce lasting motivation and stability.

 We Are Fulfilled Not by Consuming, But by Creating

Rest is necessary. Fun is beautiful. But it’s not enough.

Because at our core, we are not just beings who consume— We are beings who create. And in that creation, we find meaning, we feel alive, we become whole.