What makes us want to be better?

Question

Why do we, as humans, always want to better?

It seems that our brain makes us think that we "must" be better than we are at something. Either that, or we "must" be better at something then someone else.

So, what really makes us want to be better?
Why do we always want to be better?

Some very nice answers, but try being litteral about it.

Answer 1

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be better than worse... always. And there's always the instinctual competition for stuff (food, mate, etc)

Also, you're getting into maslow's hierarchy of needs, which you can learn about from google or any basic psychology course.

Answer 2

The more we experience the more we learn... that is how the brain works... with more knowledge we discover more possibilities, and I think this is what ultimately drives us. There are some people, however, who may learn from experiences but make no attempt to better themselves. Personally, I am motivated to better myself to open up more opportunities and to be in a better condition to help others.... but as for humans in general - survival of the fittest... being better gives us a better chance to survive in the long run... simple evolution theory i guess.

Answer 3

Desire - the root of all suffering - a disatisfaction with the current state of affairs.

Its basis is ideological and it is self perpetuating.

People are handed an ideal to live up to but they fail, because people are not an ideal, they are what they are.

The more one is told that one has failed to meet the standards of an ideal the more one will be disatisfied with oneself and seek to be "better".

The more one tries to meet an ideal the more one will fail.

Things get really ugly when, frustrated at not being able to live up to an ideal oneself, people seek relief by judging others against that same ideal and invariably find those people even more lacking.

People who accept themselves inherently don't feel compelled to try to be better - these are essentially mutually defining ideas.

But then, perhaps this is where ideals originate - "I am perfect, follow my lead".

So perhaps that's only half the story. If one recognizes oneself as being both the internal and external aspects of ones holistic experience of life, then acceptance of oneself, includes both acceptance of the self and and acceptance of what is other.

When one accepts oneself there is no ideal, no disatisfaction, no suffering, no desire to be better, and the world becomes beautiful all by itself.

Answer 4

We ought to take care to humble the terminology. existence is sacred. human beings have a complicated aspect of common sense which looks to provide an benefit in various aspects of interaction with different kinds of existence. This common sense enables ingenious and imaginitive version to circumstances the position mammals and different kinds of existence evidently or instinctively adjust and rework. flora and fauna even as left unto itself looks to instinctively live on and flourish. very regularly human infringement compromises evidently loose creatures. better positive is a relative time period grounded in human ego. Sea creatures can roam the deep, hen can bounce the skies, and different animals graze, roam, and shuttle only about without difficulty. lots of those purposes can in easy words be carried out by ability of people with from time to time massive ingenious genius. the point is that guy is diverse. better positive is a doubtful time period even as comparing organic wonders to the from time to time countless regularly restricted ability of guy.

Answer 5

My brain is the best toy that I have ever run into. If learning and seeking more experiences Is wanting to get better then, that is me .
I enjoy playing and well I want the best toy I can get. Getting,"better" means that my toy is getting better. God I love this.
It is so fun !!!!! I am improving my brain too, cool. ;-)

Answer 6

In short....ego. The idea or concept that we exist somehow as seperate from the universe around us and that somehow, our actions, thought, words, have some affect on the great everything. Not that it's a bad thing, an illusion maybe, but at least it gives the will to continue to improve ourselves as an individual.

Answer 7

we were brought up that way, and society expects one to be
better than the other, and peer pressure let us do this.
we want to excell,(does not worry in what) we need to excell to feel we have achieved somethingin life.
The main thing is to excell and also respect others

Answer 8

Natural selection, a fear of entropy, and old fashion desires

Answer 9

Because hman nature is "Be different from others, moonlight should fall on you...only you"

Answer 10

the strive to be the person we wish our parents were