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Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#41

Post by fredead »

The pursuit of outcomes, or the search for fulfillment and satisfaction, is a fundamental aspect of human nature. It is natural to strive for goals and to desire to improve one's circumstances. However, it is also true that the attainment of a goal does not necessarily bring lasting satisfaction. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "hedonic treadmill," where people quickly adapt to new levels of achievement and return to a baseline level of happiness. The key to finding fulfillment in life may lie in finding a balance between setting and working towards goals while also finding contentment in the present moment and cultivating a sense of purpose. Additionally, it's important to be mindful that the pursuit of material things may not bring the ultimate happiness, it's also important to focus on experiences, relationships and personal growth

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#42

Post by tylershuster »

Purification — Deification — Theosis.

  6 Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
  before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
  7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
  8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
    “Everything is meaningless!”
  ...
  13 Now all has been heard;
      here is the conclusion of the matter:
  Fear God and keep his commandments,
      for this is the duty of all mankind.
  14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#43

Post by pcdoodle »

Making "cool shit" if possible.

The empty problem could mean you need a vacation or routine change.

I get this way in the winter too. Best of luck to everyone feeling this way right now. These feelings are mostly temporary. 3 weeks vacation to a new climate is nice. YMMV.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#46

Post by Apreche »

I don't know what anyone else is chasing, but I know precisely what my primary goal is. I want to live a life of idle leisure. I'm 20% of the way to my goal now that I only work 4 days (32 hours) a week. It may be that I don't get to 100% until retirement, if I'm even able to retire at all. It may be that I have a setback and end up working 5 days again. It may be that I get extremely lucky earlier than that.

I know that my end goal is so unrealistic, I am very unlikely reach it if I try to make it in one step. Instead I'm always looking for small steps I can take to just get a little bit closer. And with that mindset, I have made real progress.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#47

Post by p1esk »

dntrkv wrote: post #29
tengbretson wrote: post #8

We are trying to create value for key stakeholders. When does it end? It's always ending. And yet it is also always beginning anew each fortnight.

https://youtu.be/DYvhC_RdIwQ OP if you watch this, don’t take it too seriously (it is a joke, but with kernel of truth). But generally if you’re feeling that way it might be time to step back and focus on other parts of your life (family, friends, hobbies, mental and physical health, travel, etc).

You might have misunderstood the OP: key stakeholders are people you care about - for most it’s themselves and/or family. That’s who you create value for.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#49

Post by vichu »

This is such a funny question. It's not a particularly uncommon one either, but I find it so peculiar.

Who's "we" here? Are you saying "we're" the same, you and I? Are you using the royal "we"? Are you a group of people running this same account? But I suppose I do know the answer to that question, "we" is the group of people like you that is still fervently participating in the rat race.

Live as you can, live as you should. There's not much else I or anyone else can really say. If you have goals, try to achieve them. If you fail, get back up. If you succeed, keep on going. What are we going after? We're just living. Is there an end? Unfortunately, yes. But don't take it so seriously.

Read, meditate, go see a therapist, maybe take some drugs. You'll figure it out.

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