Greatest wants become a reality, then great bordom befalls you

[imbetter]

Have you ever had an instant were you wanted somthing really really badly and thought to yourself "wow this is all I ever wanted!" Then you got what you wanted and it's just a small aspect of your life?

Example: 2 years back I heard the minute waltz for the time, it was all I ever wanted to learn, I thought to myself "wow it'd be so amazing if I learned this!" Then I learned it and it didn't even matter to me anymore.

My point is, after you get somthing you've always wanted, there's somthing even greater you want.

Post away!

[johnny-boy]

Yes, a healthy state of mind is one in which there are endless objectives.

I remember years ago, all I wanted was to have my music played on network TV. Well, now I've had many placements on NBC and ABC - big deal, I now want my music in a great movie (one that will become a classic).

I'm sure after I achieve this, I'll want something more sensational - at least I better. Otherwise, it's time to check out.

Best, John

[ted]

That is indeed how most people operate. Unfortunately I seem to have missed the bus. Even as a child I hardly asked for anything, and birthday and Christmas presents had to be practically forced on me. The same lack of ambition and desire has characterised my adult life. It's nothing to do with being able to work hard, I hasten to add, especially in music; that is quite different. Neither am I apathetic if a task needs doing.

In fact, with specific regard to music, I seem to create a lot more than most of the restless brigade do anyway. The acts of creation and playing are themselves the ends as well as the means. I know precisely the mechanism of the psyche Imbetter is describing because my wife and friends mostly think like that and such sentiment appears to memetically underpin the society in which I live. 

I think it is possibly genetic, as my father and grandfather were both very laid-back - very active though, both mentally and physically, as I am, but lacking in the desire/gratification cycle so intrinsic to the modern world. A curious by-product is that I can remember only with effort what it feels like to be bored.

[jazzyprof]

It is the very nature of the human animal to want more, better, higher, bigger, faster, longer...  So we build a plane and man gets to fly.  But then it's not enough...we must go into orbit and then walk on the moon.  Once we get to the moon we ask, is that all there is?  No way, let's go to Mars.  And so on...to another galaxy.  I don't think it's ambition.  It's more of an innate tendency of the organism to want to grow in consciousness, skill, ability...to avoid stasis and to achieve mastery over its environment.  So as a kid I wanted nothing more than to learn to play "Fur Elise".  Now I want to play the "Ocean Etude"...

[pianistimo]

this is terrible of me - but i mistook the word organism for something else.  anyways...nevermind about that. 

yes.  most of the fun is getting where you are going.  but, you have to have some kind of idea what you want.  where i fail miserably is to get the last few steps in order.  i mean -if i really wanted to perform - i'd be performing right now somewheres.  a restaurant.  wherever.  but, i am fighting a battle with how much i can really handle on my plate (taking care of kids after school) without compromising their happiness.  even tonight - i know i've been on the computer too long.  but, hey.  this is my alternate fun to watching a ballgame.    i'm just not into football.

[prometheus]

Yes, a healthy state of mind is one in which there are endless objectives.

Then you will never be able to be satisfied.

A healthy state of mind is one without objectives. Really, you long for something and then when you accomplish it you realise that it isn't so impressive. So then you long for something else.

You need to learn to appriciate what you have instead of always longing for something in the future. The future will never arrive. You can only live in the present.

Ok, actually I think one needs to balance the two. If you have no objectives you may be extremely happy but you will never accomplish anything.

[jazzyprof]

this is terrible of me - but i mistook the word organism for something else.  anyways...nevermind about that. 

And it is true that of those too we want more, better, higher, bigger, faster, longer... 

Really, you long for something and then when you accomplish it you realise that it isn't so impressive. So then you long for something else.

Great art is born out of deep longing...for a woman, a native land, freedom, union with God...
Without it, yes there will still be art but it won't have soul.

[rc]

Ok, actually I think one needs to balance the two. If you have no objectives you may be extremely happy but you will never accomplish anything.

Yes, that's how I see it.  It's not about achieving a concrete objective, instead to simply have a desire to always be progressing and growing in every way.

That's the beauty of perfectionism.  Perfection is impossible in reality, so it's a great way to keep improving forever.  So long as we understand this and don't make ourselves miserable over human imperfection, balance is achieved.

I remember it took me a while after the fact that I realized I had learned to play a piece that I'd dreamed of playing.  My dreams grow as I do.

[ahinton]

this is terrible of me - but i mistook the word organism for something else.  anyways...nevermind about that. 

While making that self-confessed mistake, did you therefore assume that what you mistook it for could develop "an innate tendency...to want to grow in consciousness, skill, ability...to avoid stasis and to achieve mastery over its environment"? If I am correct in what it is that you mistook it for, that would surely be asking rather a lot of it, would it not?! (or are they so different in Pennsylvania?). Interesting idea, though, even if somewhat unlikely in reality...

Best,

Alistair

[counterpoint]

It is the very nature of the human animal to want more, better, higher, bigger, faster, longer... 

Yes, that's true. But the question is: we want to reach a goal, but when we have reached it, we are not happy. Or only for a very short time. So is it worth all the struggle?

[elspeth]

But the alternative to the struggle is to stagnate, and that can't be good. Ambition is built in to the human condition... I don't think anyone avoids it.

[prometheus]

Giving up the struggle doesn't have to be the same as stagnation.

[elspeth]

What else can it be, if you're not going to work to achieve/attain anything more than you have?

[nicco]

What else can it be, if you're not going to work to achieve/attain anything more than you have?

Start collecting stamps.

[prometheus]

Do can do something without wanting to accomplish anything.

[elspeth]

Do can do something without wanting to accomplish anything.

Such as? Offhand I'm really struggling to think of any activity which doesn't involve goals of some description.

Start collecting stamps.

But there are goals involved in that. To find a particular example, or find a particular set, or collect as many as possible from one country... It may be a fairly passive activity and the goal long-term rather than short-term, but that doesn't mean there aren't still goals involved.

[pianistimo]

maybe it's a combination of the two ideas.  to relax - and when you are most relaxed - you have the ability to go farther in music or ?  if you are uptight and worried about pressure, then what you want or expect doesn't happen.  sometimes when you are just letting it 'simmer' in the subconcious  - then it explodes.  ahinton, we have a lot more fireworks going off here in pennsylvania.  basically people don't have any compunction not to use them for every holiday around.  if they're not going off - then we have these hunters in the woods that are shooting at things.  you go outside and 'bang.'  you turn around to try to find the direction of the shot - and it reverberates around each corner of earshot.  for all i know, they could be directly behind me when they shoot.

[counterpoint]

  if you are uptight and worried about pressure, then what you want or expect doesn't happen.  sometimes when you are just letting it 'simmer' in the subconcious  - then it explodes.

That's wise words of Pianistimo! I fully agree.

If we are impatient, we do not reach our goals quicker. Perhaps we don't reach them at all.

[ahinton]

ahinton, we have a lot more fireworks going off here in pennsylvania.  basically people don't have any compunction not to use them for every holiday around.  if they're not going off - then we have these hunters in the woods that are shooting at things.  you go outside and 'bang.'  you turn around to try to find the direction of the shot - and it reverberates around each corner of earshot.  for all i know, they could be directly behind me when they shoot.

OK - but that doesn't quite seem to answer my (admittedly somewhat facetious) question about your self-admitted "mistaken organism"...over to you again...(!)

Best,

Alistair

[johnny-boy]

Then you will never be able to be satisfied - Promy

Satisfaction comes with ever new accomplishment. I enjoy it briefly, and then it's time to move on to the next objective.

I also enjoy the small pleasures of life. I look forward to my Dog Dagny's greeting every time I come home from work, that afternoon coffee break, my daily soft pretzel (with mustard), and many other simple pleasures.

But I couldn't enjoy these small pleasures without the longing for new objectives and higher accomplishments in life.

Film producing companies; watch out, Johnny-Boy is on the way!

John

[pianolearner]

Have you ever had an instant were you wanted somthing really really badly and thought to yourself "wow this is all I ever wanted!" Then you got what you wanted and it's just a small aspect of your life?

Example: 2 years back I heard the minute waltz for the time, it was all I ever wanted to learn, I thought to myself "wow it'd be so amazing if I learned this!" Then I learned it and it didn't even matter to me anymore.

My point is, after you get somthing you've always wanted, there's somthing even greater you want.

Post away!

I think the journey to the goal is as important as the goal itself. Isn't there a saying that goes along the lines of: "The worst thing that can happen is for all your dreams to come true at once"

There is also one which says: "The richest people of all are those with the fewest wants"