Some people are sensation seekers by nature. It's natural to crave new and exciting things, to want to go on epic adventures, and to discover as much as life has to offer. Psychologist Marvin Zuckerman describes sensation seeking as a personality trait. He says that thrill seekers want novel, complex, and intense experiences no matter their physical, social, or legal risks.
The most extreme examples of sensation seeking are extreme sports. Activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, rock or mountain climbing all are pretty high-risk, yet some people do them exactly for that adrenaline rush. For some people, however, a new experience like taking a dance class can be equally exhilarating and also counts as sensation seeking.
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Thrill-seeking serves an important evolutionary purpose. Without having the courage and being driven to venture into the unknown, human beings would still be in the dark about a lot of things. Without such people, we wouldn't know what lies at the bottom of the ocean, what's on the highest mountain peaks on Earth, and we probably wouldn't be able to fly to other countries in a matter of hours.
Sensation seeking is different from simply taking risks. Psychologists say that risk-taking is all about the physical, social, legal, or even financial dangers. Sensation seeking, on the contrary, is about novelty, unearthing new things and experiences despite the dangers that they present.
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Zuckerman emphasizes how important it is for our society to have people of both types: high and low sensation seekers. "You need people to keep the books and make laws and have families, and you need your adventurers like Columbus to explore and find excitement," he explains.
Sometimes, finding joy in moderately interesting things is fine as well. In the age of social media where we're bombarded with superlatives, FOMO, and sometimes unrealistic expectations, it can be hard to enjoy the simpler things in life. St. Lawrence University professor Art J. Clark, Ed.D. writes that when we find joy in everyday objects and experiences, we're more appreciative and are more content in our existence.
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If we're looking for things to contribute to our sense of well-being, Clark recommends some simple everyday activities. Smelling flowers, having a conversation with a friend, going for a walk, helping a person in need, or observing a baby's smile are all things that can bring us a sense of contentment and don't involve any risk-taking.
"Most individuals are capable of appreciating the simple pleasures in life; however, it is easy to overlook or fail to notice the possibility of these small joys," according to Clark. "What brings delight varies for each person, but opportunities to appreciate life's simple pleasures are at hand when open to the possibilities."
