Scott Adams of the Dilbert Blog wrote a great post titled The Meaning of Meaning. It’s about finding a higher purpose in life and how success alone isn’t satisfying. Scott provides some great examples from his personal experience. This is my favorite passage:
I remember when Dilbert hit it big and it became clear that I would never again have to worry about money. It was a wonderful feeling, but it didn’t last. I went from happy to hollow with no warning. The first moment that I could afford any car I wanted, I lost interest in having a nice car. I simply couldn’t see the point, if there ever was one. Success is surprisingly disorienting.
One day, about ten years ago, I was alone in my office, sitting on the couch and reflecting on the fact that I had managed to become rich and famous in my dream job. For the first time in my life, I had no goals. And for a goal-oriented guy, that’s an empty feeling. Success was supposed to feel good and stay that way. But it tricked me. There was a huge hole in my soul. I sat in my office and sobbed.
This immediately reminded me of an article I wrote a ways back about the power of a Life Lie. The lie isn’t believing that you can reach your goals, the lie is believing that reaching your goals will solve all your problems.
As you can see from Scott’s experience, becoming wealthy in your dream job won’t make you happy forever. It’s actually depressing. We’re happiest when we’re on our way towards a goal. It follows that actually accomplishing our goals isn’t essential. The most important thing is making positive progress and having a higher purpose.
Success is a journey. Apparently similar things happened to Astronauts. They killed themselves to get to the moon. When they came back some were really depressed. They had achieved their ultimate goal. It’s really important to find another direction to grow after you achieve your goal. I believe that there are two stages of life: Growth and Decay. You have to keep growing.
I like to set what I call “tiny goals.” Some days if I have writer’s block or if I just don’t feel motivated to do anything at all, I’ll make a little to-do list of things that need to be done. (like cleaning the garage)
Nothing new, I suppose, but I like to think of my to-do list as a list of tiny goals, with tasks and clear rewards (”if I clean the garage, my wife will leave me alone about it, and I will get to enjoy a guilt-free beer afterwards!”)
The small little positive boosts that I get throughout the day as I achieve my tiny goals help to brighten up my overall outlook. Plus I get my honeydew list cleared off, which is always a bonus.
Buz Dale,
I completely agree about growth and decay. We can’t be happy sitting still.
Scott,
I know what you mean about achieving small goals. One of things I look to do is organize my room. Afterwards, I feel like I’ve gotten something done and the lack of clutter helps me focus. If I put some music on, cleaning is almost fun.
“We’re happiest when we’re on our way towards a goal. It follows that actually accomplishing our goals isn’t essential.”
That is so true. The happiness experienced by achieving a goal is a temporary one, and I’m always encouraging people to stop postponing feeling really good about themselves until some future time that may never arrive. It may sound simple, but the truth really is that enduring happiness comes from enjoying the journey. The destination is secondary.
Isn’t success is a ’success’ because it is a journey? Success is defined by Wordnet as: an event that accomplishes its intended purpose.
What events we need to make to accomplish its intended purpose? Do we need more money? How’s your journey to your goal? What method you use? You gamble and hit it big or you strive, be persistence and get what you really, really wants?
It’s the road to journey that makes people happy. We tried our best and then we succeed in doing so. We succeed in making a journey towards the goal. (I hope everyone understand this)
Doe
Scott Adam’s example pretty much describes how it works. It appears we are made to always search for improvement, to innovate, to struggle for something better. When we achieve a goal, we immediately NEED a new one.
What about the idea that “the journey is the goal is the journey”, “the journey is what counts”, and all that? People imagine a good situation, and they journey to get there. Sure, that is all and well.
Consider this then: as long as one focuses on the goal, the journey is struggle. When one forgets the goal, the journey is good.
Eastern philosophy has been harping about this for ages. You do something in order to do it, not to have something else. When you do the dishes, do the dishes. When you write, write. When you paint, paint.
When you do, do. Don’t think of the result. It will take the joy out of the present moment. Mindfulness, awareness, being “there”, the zone, effortlessness, etc, etc.
Easier said than done.
@Scott,
I agree. Tiny goals is a super way to feel good about oneself. Set life up so you can win it.
@John,
What could a higher purpose be?
When I said ‘higher purpose’ I was thinking along the lines of improving the world or creating something beautiful. In truth, I’m really not completely sure and this is a question I’m still trying to answer in my own life.
Dear John,
This was one of the main points of
Netzche’s philosophy–life is pain, but pain is ok if one uses it as manure to create great works–which is a long and SLOW struggle over decades.
He opposed the idea that avoiding pain and misery is the goal of life.
Very helpful to me.
p.s. ” Take small Steps”–Contact, Carl Sagan
King Solomon tried to find the meaning of life and reached some interesting conclusions. Have you read the Book of Ecclesiastes?
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