In pursuit of happiness

This piece isn't about the 2006 Hollywood movie starring Will Smith which chroniclesthe challenges one of which was homelessness that the main character of the movie , Chris Gardner had to overcome in his pursuit for a better life for himself and his family particularly his son. The movie was titled "The pursuit of happyness" and so doesn't technically have the bear the same title as this piece although some of the themes portrayed in the movie may appear herein.

Back in high school while, there was an interesting concept which we were introduced to which seemed abstract at the time but its real world implications continue to strike a chord on a daily basis whenever I reflect on it. The concept is especially relevant for those who decide to delve into the world of crypto currencies via either investing and HODLing or trading.

The concept was that human wants are insatiable while needs to a large extent can be satisfied. Satisfaction could be attained for the latter because needs are in simple terms essential for one's proper well being or even survival in some instances. Let me attempt to illustrate . At one point or another we may need to commute from one point to another hence the need for a reliable means of transportation. If the public transport system in a particular location is very effective, then purchasing a personal vehicle may not be a NEED for persons living in such areas.

However, if such an effective public transport system were to be absent, then an individual having to purchase a personal vehicle would then fall in the category of being a need. The concept surmised that human wants are insatiable because they are essentially borne out of our desires which by their nature can never be satisfied as they are unending.

In the crypto space if you always crave more without proper risk management your greed is likely to be unbridled and you are bound to get rekt or fall victim to HYIP schemes which usually don't end well. In the end the dream of hitting that dream super profit or returns becomes a mirage because of the unmanaged desire to want more and more which more often than not clouds logical or proper reasoning.

So it is in life, some hope that there is that point in the acquisition of material things or goals that they will hit or attain and they will attain happiness. In reality, true or sustained happiness cannot be achieved in this way. The reason is that as as humans we always want more and more in terms of material possessions. This is the basis for the concept in economics that was previously stated. Thus the pleasure or happiness of achieving such goals is usually short-lived followed closely by a longing for something else or a void of emptiness.

Corporations or firms that specialise in consumer products such as electrical gadgets such as smartphones and automobiles tap into this attribute of ours to their benefit. This is why they always have a steady stream of upgrades or new features in their product lines to wet our appetite of wanting more or the newest release in the hope that we will be overwhelmed by our desires and make such purchases.

The reality of life is that there will always be a better or newer gadget or possession than what you currently have. In fact if you're married there is definitely going to be someone more handsome or beautiful than your current spouse. So if your being happy is tied to a material possession or something that is transient, happiness will continue to evade you as there will ALWAYS be something better than what you currently have. Thus your happiness will only be momentary if you hinge it on the acquisition of the next best thing.

This is in no way suggesting that we shouldn't aspire for better things in life or set goals for things we intend to achieve. The point is to not tie happiness to these things as we don't always get what we want in life when we desire them. Hence it is important to make a conscious choice or decision to be happy not only in good times but even in the face of challenges while trying to achieve our goals.