Aqeel Ahmad

The pursuit of happiness is ingrained in human nature. Every individual strives to achieve a state of contentment and joy in their life. However, despite our efforts to reach this elusive goal, the feeling of happiness seems to be fleeting. This phenomenon can be explained by the concept of hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation. The term "hedonic treadmill" was coined by Brickman and Campbell in 1971, based on their research on happiness. It refers to the tendency of individuals to return to their baseline level of happiness despite experiencing positive or negative events in their lives. In simpler terms, it means that individuals get used to changes in their life, both positive and negative, and their overall level of happiness remains relatively constant. To understand this concept better, let us take an example. Imagine that you have been dreaming of a new car for a long time and finally, you are able to buy it. You feel ecstatic and thrilled with your new p...

For me, every oppressed nation is far greater and more loved than the oppressor. Oppressors use their power to distract people with worldly gains, positions, and possessions. If that doesn't work, they use threats. But trust me and history: oppressors always vanish from the face of the earth, whether it’s Israel, the West, or their remnants around the world. Even cruel neighbors don't last forever. There are also people we call the stooges of the oppressors. When I observe them, I see only their lust for success and possessions. They can even abandon their loved ones to climb higher. But as I said earlier, such people will also fade into the annals of history. Then there are people who have no idea, nor the urge to find out, which path is right—whether to support the oppressed or to benefit themselves. They are influenced by the media and propaganda set up by the oppressors, found in educational institutions, neighborhoods, media, and school curriculums. Some people even get pa...