Whether we feel happy or sad, content or discontent, is not determined merely by each individual successive moment of life experience ─ a good thing happens and I'm happy, a bad thing happens and I'm sad. While our experiences affect our mood, we are not blown in a completely new direction by each gust of wind. As humans, we adjust ─ to new information and events both good and bad ─ and return to our personal default level of well-being. There will be highs and lows, but over time, like water seeking its own level, we are pulled toward our baseline ─ back up after bad news and back down after good. The euphoria of first love fades, and so does the despair of a break-up. This tendency is best seen with little kids and their toy joy: When they get what they've longed for, they believe they will be happy for the rest of their lives. And for the first few minutes of the rest of their lives, they are. But then the kids ─ like adults ─ adapt.