Why is it: When we achieve a goal in life, we always want more?

Question

Is this bad, or good?

Answer 1

That does not always apply. I would be thankful and grateful just to have one thing that I don't have. That is a person in my life that I truly love and need. I wouldn't ask for anything else, believe me...........

Answer 2

There are different reasons that we want more depending on the person. For some, it's drive to pursue better. For others, it's the love of challenge. For still others, it's a compensation or disatisfaction with other areas of life. For some, they are caught up in the rat race and just don't know when to quit...

A great example of the negative side of wanting more is preformance enhancers in sports. Because someone started taking them, someone else had to take them to keep up and so on and so forth. Now, in order to be really competitive, many athletes feel they have to take preformance enhancers. Now, a new level of "normal" has been created. But how is the next guy going to try and pull ahead of the group if its artificial already?

Another negative aspect is sometimes people simply want more because they aren't pursuiting the right goal. Identifying the goal that's going to bring long-term fulfillment before pursuiting it is the key to avoiding this trap.

A great example of positive reasons for pursuing better is the evolution of our society and our species. As time goes on and situations change, flaws are highlighted in systems within our world. As these flaws are identified and the underlying problems resolved, new flaws arise. This constant pursuit of evolution is what has caused our species to survive and thrive on earth. As such, many of us are born with the desire to always pursuit "more" - more being the key to our society continuing to grow.

Good luck!

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with setting goals and achieving them. I think it is good to want more after you achieve a goal. It means you are not settling for what is. You are striving for what could be. Always try to make yourself better than you are.

Answer 4

Depends on the circumstances. If we strive to achieve more in terms of our job/career, then it's ok because it demonstrates an attempt to better ourselves financially and/or intellectually.

If it involves disatisfaction with our material possessions, then it can be a problem. Bigger houses, more expensive cars, loads of the most up-to-date electronic devices, designer clothes, etc...none of that brings true happiness and/or personal satisfaction.

The phrase "wanting what we have" is a good one to apply here. The constant desire to obtain more, better, bigger isn't an emotionally healthy one. At some point, it needs to stop.

Answer 5

I think it's biologically hard-wired into our brains. It keeps you alive! Being lean and hungry and ready to take on the next challenge is what enables you to live longer, so I guess you could call it a survival instinct. It is a deeply philosophical question you ask, and I can only wonder: I always think it's ridiculous that Bill Gates, for example, doesn't just split to a tropical island and sip Pina Coladas all day. I know I would. Or would I?

Answer 6

If you have achieved the ultimate goal. Congrats, sit down and watch it grow. Interesting question

Answer 7

Some people can never be happy with what they have. They always want more!!! It's like competing with the Jones as the saying goes.

Answer 8

life seems kind of pointless if you don't have a goal to strive for. i this this is a good thing.

Answer 9

because of our ego, we think that once we achieved this we can keep on achieving any goal .....

Answer 10

Because it is human nature. Yes it is always good to strive for more.