The Search

[Mountaineer]

I thought it might be fun to see what the members of this forum relentlessly pursue in order to be fulfilled.  If you picked "other" in the poll, please elaborate in the comments.

... Mountaineer

[Tyler]

The closest one on the list is "freedom" but I think it doesn't tell the full story. 

For me personally, the more appropriate word is "Agency" : The capacity to make my own choices.

That one concept drives my relationship with the other items on the list.  I seek freedom for the right to my own choices, power for effective choices, God for right choices, pleasure for fun choices, wealth for sustainable choices,  knowledge for informed choices, love and friendship for concerned choices, and recognition for all the work I put into hopefully making wise choices. 

Put that all together, and I believe the resulting agency in life would leave me quite fulfilled.  If it doesn't, at least it's my own damn fault and within my power to fix it. 

[Pointedstick]

I don't think it's as simple as having a single thing you seek out forever.

For me, I sought love most of all… until I found it. Then I sought wealth most of all… and I gained it--enough to make other priorities seem more important, at least. Then I sought freedom… and Harry Browne helped me realize that I have the power to get as much freedom as I want, and I found that I already had very close to the level I truly desired. And so on.

In other words, I think the things we seek out change over time as we attain and acquire the things that make us feel satisfied. The only people who endlessly search for something are the people who never find it.

[Tyler]

In other words, I think the things we seek out change over time as we attain and acquire the things that make us feel satisfied. The only people who endlessly search for something are the people who never find it.

Good point.  Also, when one pursues a single need too fervently the others are often neglected to the point of atrophy.  You may not even realize there's a problem until the crash cart is required, at which point that previously ignored need becomes the new focus in your life.  This often happens with people into power/wealth/recognition/purpose (aka. "career")  -- they have it all figured out until a heart attack or divorce slaps them in the face.  Or young adults who chase love/pleasure/freedom until the creditors come calling.

[Mountaineer]

In other words, I think the things we seek out change over time as we attain and acquire the things that make us feel satisfied. The only people who endlessly search for something are the people who never find it.

Good point.  Also, when one pursues a single need too fervently the others are often neglected to the point of atrophy.  You may not even realize there's a problem until the crash cart is required, at which point that previously ignored need becomes the new focus in your life.  This often happens with people into power/wealth/recognition/purpose (aka. "career")  -- they have it all figured out until a heart attack or divorce slaps them in the face.  Or young adults who chase love/pleasure/freedom until the creditors come calling.

I think you two hit the nail on the head, at least from my perspective.  I was wondering when I composed the poll if others thought like I did about the question.  Thank you for the comments.

... Mountaineer

[dualstow]

PURPOSE

[barrett]

PS, I think you have hit the nail on the head. The only thing I would add is that it's terribly hard to remember and appreciate the things we have attained after striving for them. It's easy to take love, financial security, freedom, etc. for granted once they have been a part of our lives for a time. At least that is what I find to be true for myself. Not sure why we are wired that way... or is it only me?

[MachineGhost]

PS, I think you have hit the nail on the head. The only thing I would add is that it's terribly hard to remember and appreciate the things we have attained after striving for them. It's easy to take love, financial security, freedom, etc. for granted once they have been a part of our lives for a time. At least that is what I find to be true for myself. Not sure why we are wired that way... or is it only me?

Its called the Hedonic Treadmill.  The brain requires higher and higher levels of reward to get the same dopamine effect as before.