Watch out for hollow goals

Sep 29

Old Happy culture tells us the same story, over and over again: if you just achieve these specific things, then you will find lasting happiness.

Yet the evidence doesn't back this up. In fact, the pursuit of achievement — along with the cultural obsession we have with it — can make us very unhappy.

It's great to have goals. But you need to make sure they don't leave you feeling hollow.

Here's one tool you can use today.

Think of a goal you have set for yourself. Ask yourself: why am I pursuing this?

Is it to bolster my ego?
To win in a competition against others?
To prove that I am good enough?
Because I was told that getting it would make me happy?

Or is it to express myself?
To be in service to others?
To make a meaningful contribution to our world?
Because I'm enjoying the actual experience of pursuing it?

Aim for goals that satisfy the latter. Those will make you far happier than any societally-approved achievement ever could.