NationStates Jolt Archive

Can mankind be happy in the absence of anything to overcome? I notice I always get a boost of happy brain chemicals when I overcome some obstacle in my life. Bigger obstacles and challenges tend to pay off bigger rewards in terms of self-satisfaction. So I got to thinking...

Is this what is meant by, "Life is struggle"? Is this why people become workaholics? Because they are addicted to overcoming stacks of paper, board presentations and the ever-fleeting deal? Is boredum the result of lack of anything to overcome? Can folks who do little to overcome their own issues ever be happy? Is this the great disserive we provide when we enable others to avoid dealing with and overcoming their problems?

At the global level it doesn't shine well on the practice of foreign aid.

Let's talk about this....

I don't know...I feel happy without overcoming obstacles..but you do prove a point.

It is why people play MMOs. A lot of people don't have to overcome much (or perhaps more accurately, enough) in their working and family life to feel satisfied with themselves. So they overcome exaggerated circumstances in fantasy conflicts. Amazing how many people will feel a sense of real triumph, and then a sense of real loss, as they live through the rise and fall of an imaginary society.

I expect there are plenty of things in real life to be overcome, for anyone who is up to it. Sometimes I think distractions just keep people from dealing with the real issues.

In any case, there is plenty to overcome at the present time. I can think of one certifiably insane superpower for starters. My project at the moment is to either stop said superpower from committing genocide, or at least find a safe haven for myself and others before said superpower gets around to it. Unfortunately, said superpower has a long reach - it has already corrupted most of Europe and much of Asia and Latin America.

If we do overcome this evil, I am sure another will rise up. Do we crave such conflicts? Do we need them? Sometimes I think so, and sometimes I think that this whole world is just some other world's playground to give its citizens some excitement. If so, the good news is that such games are usually stacked in the player's favor! (Poor NPCs are gonna get clobbered, though!)


Baldur

I think the wrorst I've had to overcome up until now is trying to make my copy of Black and White work on Windows XP >: |

It is why people play MMOs. A lot of people don't have to overcome much (or perhaps more accurately, enough) in their working and family life to feel satisfied with themselves. So they overcome exaggerated circumstances in fantasy conflicts. Amazing how many people will feel a sense of real triumph, and then a sense of real loss, as they live through the rise and fall of an imaginary society.

I think a lot of creative forms of expression are part of that desire to overcome, to rise above that which is merely average. I personally enjoy RPing because it enables me to face challenges that human beings can only dream of, be it intergalactic or fantastic in scale, or mundane with a supernatural twist.

Writing, reading, composing, painting, sculpting, even just sitting and thinking or talking about ideas...all of them stem from that desire to overcome the mundane world and the boredom of repetitive everyday life.

Can mankind be happy in the absence of anything to overcome?

For as long as it exists, it will always have itself.

If humans solved all their real problems (impossible really, but lets just assume it can be done for the sake of arguement) there would be a lot of people who will be unhappy at what they consider an empty existence, a lot of people who will feel liberated from toil, and a lot of people who will create work for themselves as a means of creating meaning.

If humans solved all their real problems (impossible really, but lets just assume it can be done for the sake of arguement) there would be a lot of people who will be unhappy at what they consider an empty existence, a lot of people who will feel liberated from toil, and a lot of people who will create work for themselves as a means of creating meaning.

I tend to believe this too. I also think that is why you can be filthy stinking rich and be miserable. Poor folks tend to rely on the idea that if they had enough money, their problems would be solved. I can only imagine what problems besiege the wealthy, but like us working folks, I bet the rich manufacture some of their problems out of boredom or a need to overcome an obstacle. I remember someone telling me once to "get out of your own way" and "stop creating obstacles for yourself", and now, in light of this new revelation, I think it might be the human condition to create obstacles for oneself. But I think the meaningfulness of reasonable work and creativity is much more satisfying than drama.

If humans solved all their real problems (impossible really, but lets just assume it can be done for the sake of arguement) there would be a lot of people who will be unhappy at what they consider an empty existence, a lot of people who will feel liberated from toil, and a lot of people who will create work for themselves as a means of creating meaning.

The people who feel unhappy can always go climb mountains or do survival training in a desert if they feel their lives lack challenge.

Do people in the first world feel so terrible because our lives have so much less challenge than the average Malians? I don't think so, because there's not many of us who would willingly swap places.

And also, while some rich people are miserable most seem fine, the bastards!

Weed helps me overcome many things.

Weed helps me overcome many things.
Beware the Ganja Man my friend, for he has many faces.

I don't know about this. There are times when I face not a single obstacle or challenge at all and I am perfectly satisfied, happy and content. Like when I'm lounging on a beach zoning out to the sound of the waves, or swinging in a hammock under a shady tree with a cold beverage and some snacks, or hanging out with friends at an Italian bistro drinking capuccinos and talking intellectual bullshit. Whole days, even weeks can slide by this way, and I hardly even feel it. As long as food, water, and a bathroom are available, I think it would be pretty easy to enjoy an entire life without needing to overcome things. It would just slip by like water. Cool, clear, babbling water... *sighs, looks at cat sleeping on cushion, decides to join him*

Well I think people need a challenge in life. I joined the military when I was younger for a challenge. Ended up in the Gulf War because of it. I have a business I run. It is fairly challenging to keep the money flowing in and keeping even lesser flowing out. But after awhile that to has become ordinary. Ended up taking a couple climbing classes and joined a mountaineers group in my area. Climbed a few of the large volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest now. You get a nice feeling of accomplishment climbing I think. Satisfies the urge for now. I think it is genetic in humans. Don't think it is a enviromental or socially taught need.

I don't know about this. There are times when I face not a single obstacle or challenge at all and I am perfectly satisfied, happy and content. Like when I'm lounging on a beach zoning out to the sound of the waves, or swinging in a hammock under a shady tree with a cold beverage and some snacks, or hanging out with friends at an Italian bistro drinking capuccinos and talking intellectual bullshit. Whole days, even weeks can slide by this way, and I hardly even feel it. As long as food, water, and a bathroom are available, I think it would be pretty easy to enjoy an entire life without needing to overcome things. It would just slip by like water. Cool, clear, babbling water... *sighs, looks at cat sleeping on cushion, decides to join him*

Well that is awesome...LOL. I must be much more ADHD than you are. I think your ability to sit and do nothing for long periods of time is rare indeed. Most people would get bored with that soon enough. =D