From Psychologies · Ava Skoupsky · · 50s
Why Some Feel Void When Achieving Long-Desired Goals
Achieving goals can leave people feeling empty, not happier.
In brief
Achieving goals can leave people feeling empty, not happier. People feel void after achieving long-held goals because their values don't align with the accomplishment. Originally reported by Psychologies.
Why goals cause emptiness
When people achieve long-held goals, they sometimes feel no satisfaction despite reaching what they dreamed of.
“Et si atteindre ses objectifs ne menait pas forcément vers l'épanouissement personnel ?”
Self-concordance explains emptiness
Achieving goals brings happiness only if they align with personal values, interests, and aspirations.
“Les chercheurs appellent la "self-concordance" (cohérence avec soi-même)”
Hedonic adaptation causes emptiness
Over time, the happiness from achieving goals fades as people adapt to new circumstances.
“Le bonheur lié à un succès particulier s'estompe avec le temps”
Goal secrecy improves success
Keeping goals secret increases the time spent on tasks by 12 minutes per task compared to sharing them.
“Les personnes qui gardaient leurs objectifs secrets travaillaient en moyenne 45 minutes par tâche, contre seulement 33 minutes pour celles qui les annonçaient à l'avance”
True success is different
Real success comes from distinguishing between the pursuit of goals and the happiness they bring.
“C'est en sachant apprécier chaque instant de son parcours que l'on peut atteindre un épanouissement personnel”
The bottom line
People feel void after achieving long-held goals because their values don't align with the accomplishment.
