# Why Some Feel Void When Achieving Long-Desired Goals

> Achieving goals can leave people feeling empty, not happier.
- Title: Why Some Feel Void When Achieving Long-Desired Goals
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: self-concordance, hedonic adaptation, goal secrecy, psychological well-being, journal of personality, pubmed study, 2012 study, 2009 study, new york university, goal achievement, happiness, personal fulfillment
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/moi/se-connaitre/bonheur/Pourquoi-certaines-personnes-ressentent-un-grand-vide-precisement-au-moment-ou-elles-obtiennent-enfin-ce-quelles-voulaient-depuis-des-annees-642286
- Author: Ava Skoupsky
- Published: 2026-09-28T04:02:57+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: self-concordance, hedonic adaptation, goal secrecy, psychological well-being, journal of personality, pubmed study, 2012 study, 2009 study, new york university, goal achievement, happiness, personal fulfillment
## 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
## Key takeaway

People feel void after achieving long-held goals because their values don't align with the accomplishment.