The happiness trap: Why chasing joy often fails

What is happiness? For everyone, this is something special, the most important thing in life: wealth, beauty, power, crowds of fans, a loving family. Regardless of the choice, even if the goal is achieved, a problem inevitably arises. It is the same for everyone. A person can be even richer, enjoy more popularity, and authority.

To the question “Who is the cutest person in the world?” the mirror will point to someone else, more attractive. Perfection has no boundaries, but that’s what we’re used to focusing on (at least in our fantasies)—no one dreams of taking second place in competitions or reaching the average income level. You always want more. Therefore, happiness does not linger in our hands and hearts.

Happiness is always incomplete

Immanuel Kant paid a lot of attention to the study of happiness. According to the philosopher, the concept itself is characterized by uncertainty. Without a doubt, everyone wants to achieve happiness, but most often, they do not fully understand how this can be done, at least in theory. The fact is that all the elements of the generally accepted versions of happiness are empirical, that is, definite and measurable.

All the things that make you happy, whether it’s money, health, or relationships, can always be a little or much better. From these realities, Kant draws the following conclusion: a person cannot achieve the final result because the process is endless. Moreover, by striving for some aspects of happiness, a person risks incurring indirect losses that can overshadow the result.

Excessive fixation on health leads to anxiety. Your attention is focused on the smallest, often completely harmless body signals. Sometimes problems are entirely invented. Naturally, this means an additional waste of time going to the doctors, as well as financial costs. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. It’s about the same with money. The first phase of capital accumulation makes you deny yourself many things.

Further, when a decent amount accumulates on the account, a completely different task appears — not to lose. At the same time, the thought of moving on is constantly spinning in my head, because many competitors are ahead. After each conquered peak, the next one appears, even steeper and more dangerous. It would seem that what prevents you from stopping and just enjoying life, being content with your existing achievements?

The concept of happiness does not allow for separation or “partiality.” It is always integral and is presented as absolute well-being in the present and every moment of the future. Being happy means never experiencing dissatisfaction, never tasting suffering. Such a scenario is unrealistic. In the life of any person (the richest, most popular, most brilliant, most beautiful), there will be bad days full of sorrow, loss, and pain.

State of Mind

Kant considered the pursuit of happiness to be a mistake, a false path leading nowhere. Instead, the philosopher suggested taking things that, in your opinion, bring happiness closer, as a kind of advice. They are not mandatory, but every step in this direction gives a feeling of joy. Meanwhile, when making the most critical life decisions, one should first of all rely on logic, the real state of things, and the long-term perspective.

Money, love, popularity, and power bring satisfaction, but the imaginary ideal is always one step ahead. Thus, our expectations equate short-term joy and long-term happiness, making them equally fleeting. Kant saw the achievement of happiness through morality, good deeds, and right deeds. In this area, the ideal is quite achievable, and the path is obvious. You always know when you’ve done the right thing or the wrong thing, said the right thing or the wrong thing.

These thoughts originated in Kant’s head against the background of the utilitarian value system that arose in Europe, where right became synonymous with efficiency, usefulness, and consumption. The whole modern world lives in an even more predatory and aggressive environment, which was formed after the industrial revolution.