Velcro & Teflon

The effects of savouring are temporary. This is because evolution has designed our brains to be Velcro for negative emotions and Teflon for positive emotions. For our prehistoric ancestors, prolonged strong negative emotions in response to danger, and brief positive emotions in response to the good things in life, were essential adaptations for survival. Humans who responded to the world in this way survived because they took great pains to avoid danger, and to persistently pursue the good things such as food, shelter, sex and productive social groups. Because evolution has wired our brains this way, with savouring, all we can hope for is to marginally prolong our experiences of positive emotions.