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Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

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Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#131

Post by mind-blight »

trabant00 wrote: post #83
mind-blight wrote: post #38

You might be depressed out burnt out. You might be at a job that is demoralizing. For a while, I used productivity as a replacement for fulfillment, and work as a distraction from difficult parts of life. I eventually realized that I was miserable, and focusing on productivity just made me better at being miserable fast. Some people get joy out of optimizing their life - I don't. I get joy out of working with people…

> Some people get joy out of optimizing their life - I don't. Yes do, you just optimize for different things which you mentioned in the last paragraph. There is no escaping the need to optimize, so the chase is true for all of us even if the objectives differ.

No, I actively avoid optimizing my personal life - specifically talking about productivity techniques used to maximize desired outcomes. I used to use those techniques for optimization. Now I don't.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#132

Post by throwaway31339 »

Unprofitable startup I'm working for told me we're changing the world. I am all in. My health is getting deteriorated, I'm getting some extra weight. But it's well worth it, because my performance is 106%. I am also thinking about my team, because we're the family. I like small little things in life, like enjoying my $15 lunch credit (it's just a plain rice, plus GrubHub delivery and service fee).

One day I will get my promotion, so I can make even bigger impact. But for the next 5 years I should focus on self-education. We have unlimited access to Udemy courses, and my manager says it's a good starting point.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#133

Post by [deleted] »

SirMaster wrote: post #97
jl6 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The value of family is one of those things that's a huge blind spot for "intellectual-types", but completely obvious to most normal people over the age of 25. It's too easy to think you're above it all, that your intelligence means you must have a higher calling, or that you're Not Like Other People. But it's not true. It takes humility to acknowledge that you're behind the curve in figuring this out, but better to l…

Hmm. I don't think I am above anything or that I have any sort of higher calling. But I have 0 desire to start a family. I just do what I like to do and have fun doing it and that all seems to work out pretty great for me.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#134

Post by isghoor »

Happiness, or avoiding unhappiness. That is the true goal of every goal.

I would advise you go to your experience. Not thoughts and ideas. But directly to your experience and figure out what you want to.

To find happiness, first one must gain clarity about the one who is finding. If we can see that one we call "I" very clearly then the attainment of happiness is going to be easy.

If the question is unclear, the answer will be unclear or completely wrong.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#136

Post by isghoor »

isghoor wrote: post #134

Happiness, or avoiding unhappiness. That is the true goal of every goal. I would advise you go to your experience. Not thoughts and ideas. But directly to your experience and figure out what you want to. To find happiness, first one must gain clarity about the one who is finding. If we can see that one we call "I" very clearly then the attainment of happiness is going to be easy. If the question is unclear, the answe…

To share the starting point I found helpful, start with the question to yourself: "Am I aware?"

Go to the experience of validating that answer. That is your anchor and starting point.

You know that to be 100 percent true.

Then separate what you are aware of from you (that which is aware).

Then investigate the nature of the attribute you know you have for certain. Is it limited in anyway? Is it personal? Does all experience depend on it or does it depend on some element of experience?

Clarify the understanding of your experience of yourself. And only then ask this question again.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#137

Post by Rury »

Really, I'm convinced there's no permanent solution to this problem. People have long asked this question, the Bible and every major religion even has parts about this topic.

I'm quite convinced that the only solution is: to simply distract yourself from being aware of it. This can admittedly be hard at times, but it can also be quite easy at other times.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#138

Post by randomopining »

undopamine wrote: post #81
mind-blight wrote: post #38

You might be depressed out burnt out. You might be at a job that is demoralizing. For a while, I used productivity as a replacement for fulfillment, and work as a distraction from difficult parts of life. I eventually realized that I was miserable, and focusing on productivity just made me better at being miserable fast. Some people get joy out of optimizing their life - I don't. I get joy out of working with people…

OP here. You're right. I left my job last year, after 1.5 years of experience out of burnout. I'm highly frugal but still running out of money, so gotta work again. The problem is, I knew from the very beginning that I'm only doing software for the money. And now I have to do the same thing which I've always dreaded. I hope I get some fulfilment working from office, socializing after three whole years.

How much do you spend per month? If youre frugal dont you have at least 1-2 yuears saved?

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#139

Post by mind-blight »

undopamine wrote: post #81
mind-blight wrote: post #38

You might be depressed out burnt out. You might be at a job that is demoralizing. For a while, I used productivity as a replacement for fulfillment, and work as a distraction from difficult parts of life. I eventually realized that I was miserable, and focusing on productivity just made me better at being miserable fast. Some people get joy out of optimizing their life - I don't. I get joy out of working with people…

OP here. You're right. I left my job last year, after 1.5 years of experience out of burnout. I'm highly frugal but still running out of money, so gotta work again. The problem is, I knew from the very beginning that I'm only doing software for the money. And now I have to do the same thing which I've always dreaded. I hope I get some fulfilment working from office, socializing after three whole years.

Yeah, I feel that. I just started full time work a couple weeks ago after avoiding it since December 2021. And I'm pretty happy with it so far.

What worked for me was holding out until I found a team with people I connected with. And I know that will change as the company grows. I wanted people who were philosophically aligned about how to work and how work should relate to life.

Re: Ask HN: What are we even chasing?

#140

Post by varunsharma07 »

kugelblitz wrote: post #129
LunarAurora wrote: post #114

We are “multistaged” beings: First stage: As Animals, we are chasing our impulses. It is just LIFE. Second stage : As Rational Beings, we are chasing our "personal" desires/goals. Most people, most of the time, are content to feel the satisfaction and move on to the next one. However, for some, sometimes, a voice emerges, a nagging voice. It says: "What are we even chasing?". The satisfaction is not there anymore. Th…

Has some elements of Maslow's pyramid of needs, perhaps interesting to see what others have looked into. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_need...

I was going to bring up Maslow's pyramid of needs. I think that is what drives us. Different needs at different times in one's life.
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