Finding Happiness Beyond Goals and Possessions
Finding Happiness Beyond Goals and Possessions In today’s world, many of us are chasing something—whether it’s the next achievement, the next paycheck, or the next promotion. We think these things will make us happy, but what if they don’t? Let’s talk about why real happiness might be different from what we’ve been led to believe. The Problem with Achievement-Based Happiness You know that high you get when you reach a big goal? That’s dopamine, our brain’s reward chemical, kicking in. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t last. After a while—maybe an hour or so—that feeling fades, and many people are left wondering, “Is that it?” This often happens when we attach our happiness to achievements. Once we get there, there’s no place left to go. The journey’s over, and we’re left with a sense of emptiness. Think about how often we’re told to “dream big” and “reach for more.” It’s good to have goals, but if our happiness relies entirely on the next big thing, we end up in a cycle of always wantin