Have you ever noticed how good “clean” feels?

Today I was reflecting on this, when I realized how good simply taking a shower made me feel. I have experienced a similar feeling when I clean the house — or even just one room.

The sense of relief is almost immediate. Relief. Peace. Calm. Rest. Happiness.

Am I the only one who feels this? I can’t imagine so.

So why is it that, as a species, we spend so much time, money, and energy pursuing other thrills — other highs, or other potential sources of good feeling? You know the drill: shopping, drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sex, food. 

Let’s take just one of those examples. You go on a shopping trip and buy a few new shirts, or shoes. Maybe a new set of pillows for the living room, or a new gadget you’ve been wanting. The thrill is immediate. But then….isn’t it inevitable that many of us feel a sense of guilt before too long?

Maybe we don’t have the money to spare, but we spent it anyway. Maybe we don’t really need what we bought — and we know that. Maybe we are saving for something more important, and now that  purchase is pushed further off.

Whatever the reasons, there are almost always inherent negatives to the means we most often choose in pursuit of that ever-evasive end: feeling good.

Why on earth do we so often avoid the one that is a fairly unassailable win?