Why is the happiness derived from our success so fleeting and short-lived?
“Congratulations! You are number 1! Here is your reward.” announced an ominous robotic voice. Immediately, a telescopic rod shot out of the ground and stopped abruptly within reaching distance of the winner. At its very end held a glass vial of neon blue liquid.
The champion carelessly reached out, uncorked the vial, and greedily gulped down the liquid reward. Immediately his body was flooded with the all-too familiar feeling of utter bliss. Even though he tried to savored this very moment, he was always annoyed by how fleeting this feeling ended up being. For the floor of the podium would inevitably bottom out and he would always find himself free-falling towards another death match with 99 other competitors.
The seasoned champion would continue to win over and over again. The familiar feeling of bliss would always meet him at the end of every round and every sip. Until one day, that feeling was unexpectedly snatched away and never returned. For he suddenly started to lose. And he was never able to claw his way back to the top of the leaderboard.
After months of frustrating defeat and unending anxiety towards never tasting the sweet elixir of victory again, the tired and worn champion finally unplugged himself from his computer. As he stumbled out of his rundown apartment into the blinding light of the afternoon sun, he was suddenly taken back. For as he strolled through his neighborhood and inhaled the sweet and refreshing spring air, he felt the familiar feeling of bliss rise up within him once again. But this time this feeling lasted much longer and could not be so easily cherry-picked away by another player that was too trigger happy.
Extrinsic motivation is a powerful yet dangerous force that often kidnaps and holds our happiness hostage. Only when we surrender our need to compare or compete with others, do we start to realize that fulfillment does not have to be so dependent on our external environment or performance. Happiness is so much more accessible and sustainable when we find fulfillment in tasks that are more naturally satisfying for yourself. And the intrinsic reward is much more meaningful than chasing after the world’s illusion of success.
