Why do our imaginations exagerate our desires for what we want, then why do we take for granted what we have?

Question

This seems to be an ongoing cycle that myself and people I know go through there entire lives. Shouldn't we get wise and after all the disappointments of getting what we want, and the regrets of losing things we took for granted... shouldn't we learn to be suspicious of this flaw in ourselves?

Answer 1

I dont see it as a flaw but rather a subconscious human trait that makes us reach to progress and to achieve. Even since the era of hunters and gatherers and farmers, we have always looked for a way to better ourselves.

What is interesting to ponder is, should mankind permit itself to nurture this obsessive behaviour, then where will it all take mankind? What will be at the end for us? Total mastery of ourselves perhaps? Mastery of our planet? Ultimate enlightenment?

For some people however, its my belief that they become confused as to what they NEED to be doing as opposed to what they WANT to be doing.

We should sometimes try setting our goals a little higher ;)

Answer 2

yes..we should acheive greater wisdom and realize this flaw...It is not bad to seek, but to seek in obssession only leads to frustration and suffering. The misinformed need is the cause of all suffering. Only through knowledge and wisdom (or experience) can you learn the more subtle ways that really allow for your happiness.

Real happiness happens when you give back to others. If you take and take, you feel lonely, with a loss of purpose, and lost. It is the natural order of nature.

Think why nature in built these needs...so you would satisfy protocals to continue survival...this is not geared for your happiness. Once you realize this, you come to grips with the fact that happiness comes from inside and from giving back. It comes from purpose, self-reliance and self-acheivement...improoving yourself as well.

This was the whole concept for all religions in the first place, correct?

improoving yourself morally, in a skill, mind or body, is one of the greatest pleasures and pleasantries of the wise. It brings happiness.

Nirvana is all about this, its finding enlightment, through self-improvement.

Answer 3

Imaginations are the things, events, and situations we perceive from our mental view which by context, are not present spatially during the point and time of perception. It is more like optical representation of things in our minds. I think our imaginations exagerate the desires of what we want because it is simple, they are things that we dont have. Our emotions have reached its level of contention obliquely suppressed by the absence of that object. Thus, it is dictating our psyche (our emotions are governed and controlled by our minds or psyche) its needs and wants . What I am saying is, this is all correlate to our emotions.Emotions for love or likings., We can't possibly imagine things that are distasteful to our minds, in exagerated manner. In fact when this happens, we immediately try to 'give our head a shake' and erase that mental view in our minds. The object of our imagination is created and supplememnted by our thinking brain. The exageration is caused by our emotion, strong positive emotions of 'liking' that object.
Your question, why do we take for granted what we already have? I think it has something to do with your idea of spontaneity .It is a good thing but we have to be careful in a manner of what or who are we placing in priority. I also think we take things that we already have for granted because they are already securedly 'locked-in' with us and the thoughts of chances of losing them are far from over. Have you ever heard of King Solomon's maxim? It suggests that it is better to only have one handsful of tranquility than having two handsful of toils and chasing after the wind. I think this all have something to do with the degree of contentment one has for certain things. After all how can you keep a heart content and let it sit comfortably in your hand when you have other more hearts to attend to in your other hand ? This would make that heart in that one hand look like it's taken for granted.

Answer 4

Damn, your miserable. Desire is a potent motivator. The world's economy would stagnate and die without Desire and the skills to manipulate it. No one would strive. There would be no reward.
Loss is in the nature of living. If you continue in this vein, look to Buddhism, it all about this and wisdom too.

Answer 5

I don't really relate to your observation. If anything my imagination tends to downplay what I think I want making me feel it wont be that good and I dont really want it as much so I shouldnt bother trying to acheive it, whilst things I already have make me happy and greatful to be alive.

Maybe its because you are sublimating a desire you do not recognise and seeking other things in place of what you really want?

Answer 6

You're probably still young. Once you get older (like myself) you start appreciating what you have more and start setting more realistic goals for yourself.

Answer 7

It will keep happening until you find contentment within yourself. You only have yourself to blame