Why does it seem that, for most of us, the thing that our heart most desires is the most unattainable?

Answer 1

Really depends on what your heart desires. If you desire the impossible, it is surely going to be unattainable.

Answer 2

Because if we had it most of us would immediately try to change that beautiful thing or move on to the next unattainable thing instead of enjoying the moment.

I have a rich friend who once said he had the most fun in his life when he was poor, still trying everything he could to get that first million, and failing miserably.

Now he has several million, he denies ever saying that, and I've never known a more miserable, unhappy person. Now the money owns him. He doesn't own the money.

I've never been lucky enough to actually attain the great love of my life, but I know many people who have. Almost all of them have blown it, usually a lot sooner than you'd think.

So that's why I gave the answer that I did.

Be it love, money, or power, no one ever seems to be able to enjoy what they have, or to be grateful for it.

I have almost nothing now, by most people's standards. I used to have far, far more than I ever would have needed.

I'm a lot happier now, and I sleep much better. I no longer desire anything and I'm grateful for every little bit I get. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned there.

Answer 3

Because we are never satisfied. We always want better, improved, new things in life, whatever that may be (relationships, materialistically, etc). Some people just don't know when to give up and just be content w/ what they already have. They believe to find true happiness is to get something that no else already has or can't have. The most unattainable things are afterall, the most attractive because you view it differently and want to know more about it, you crave it, think about it non-stop, it's an urge that won't stop you until you get it.

Answer 4

That's the irony of it. Well I guess if it wasn't unattainable, we wouldn't want it. If it was something that was so easily accessible all the time, its value would not be as high. What is most unattainable is most valuable, most desirable. I guess we have to make a choice if we're going to go after it or not.

Answer 5

That is such a good question. I often wonder if it's just human nature to want what you can't have. However, I think the real question is why are we always looking for something more? Maybe it all goes back to something when we were young. Something we desired to have such as love, material things, etc. And we carry that want with us through life looking for a way to fill a void we don't even know how to fill, only to find out, even if we do attain some one thing, we think is going to "complete" us, we get too comfortable with that and search for some new challenge..like something else that seems hard to get. Then again, it may all be the chase and excitement of the chase. All-in-all, I think that question could be answered in so many different ways depending on who's answering. Again, good question though.

Answer 6

My heart only desires the attainable. Unattainable desires are for the greedy and the power hungry. There is nothing I can't do if I set my mind to it. If you desire more than what you know you just can't have you are not aware of your limitations, or you just don't care.

"You can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you get what you need"

Answer 7

There are really things that are and not meant for us. Try to focus on great things that you think can be more possible to attain instead of complaining and being bitter about the unattainable. If you can't be a good speaker, try to be a good writer. If you can't be a perfect student/employee, be a good son. If you can't be superman, be a doctor or lawyer. If you can't get that pretty girl in the neighborhood, look for someone who's really nice and caring. See, there are a lot of options.

Answer 8

My reasoning may be a bit backwards, but it is based on the same thought process. If it is easy to get, it must not be that important. The objects importance increases through multiple attempts at obtaining that object. The harder you have to work at something, the more obstacles in your way, the more you wish you could just have it at a whim...the more your desire for it grows. For the lonely or abused it can be true love. For the obese it can be a fit and healthy body. For the embattled soul...peace.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Absence makes the heart grow stronger.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors things.


More cliche's than Gen. Jack O'Neill could shake a stick at...Stargate writers would be proud...

And speaking of stargate...it just happens that I just finished watching "The Torment of Tentalus" from Stargate SG-1. The story of goes that Tentalus (Ancient Greek Dude) went to hades and was locked in a room of water up to his ankles, but every time he bent down to drink, the water would recede. The thing his heart most desired was a drink of water...this was made impossible by design...or in other words...unattainable.

Answer 9

I love your question, it is genius!!!

I think it is because we desire things that are unusual and out of this world. Not all of them are unattainable. My hearts desire is to become a doctor and to travel around the world and become a Astrophysicist....

The only person that can stop you from getting your hearts desire is YOU! Some people have little faith in them selves, which is sad because everyone in the world has the chance to get their hearts desire.

Answer 10

I don't think that people necessarily want the unattainable; rather, I think we yearn for the things that seem to be just out of reach. Because they constantly tempt us, yet pose a challenge by eluding us, we become fixated on them. Sometimes, there is an incredible satisfaction to knowing you've beaten the obstacles between you and your prize.

If what you want is TOO unattainable, then you may need to go find a different mountain to climb. New challenges can distract us from unhealthy obsessions.

Answer 11

It's the nature of desire. We can't desire the things we already have, and there's no point in having a great desire for something easily obtainable. If all I wanted in the world was a private island and a taco, I'd hardly say I most desired the taco, because I could just drive down the street and get one for a dollar or so. I'd say I desire the island more because that desire is less easily sated, and therefore felt more strongly. The desire builds up over time... Whereas for things I can easily obtain, there is little or no buildup.