Yet, most are still left wanting – a state of being endemic to humanity. Two explanations are generally proffered. First: people pick wants that are far too ambitious. Think of the obese person aiming for 100lbs of shedding or the unpaid intern expecting to be salaried at $200k/yr in 16 months. Incredible turns are indeed possible, but compelling them into existence almost always requires tremendous work. This degree of difficulty is too easily underestimated basking in the glow of outcome dreams, and so when the grind really sets in, few have the willingness to persist. They’ll make excuses or claim they didn’t really want what they thought they did or employ any number of defense mechanisms aimed at preserving a confident self-identity. None of this erases the fact that most wants are achievable if one can avoid tapping out.

Second: whenever a want is met, a new one emerges. It happens with little things: I’ll feel good today as soon as I eat lunch – [Eat lunch] – If only I had a coffee, then I’d be content … It happens with big things: I’ll be happy once I become VP – [Become VP] – If only I was CEO, then I’d really feel great … These cycles are infinite, and only by seeing them as such does one have any chance of defeating them. Good luck with that, though. This challenge is so oppressive it takes a certain type of credulousness to think it can be resolved with a few minutes of observation and meditation. Still, this challenge remains fundamentally in the realm where input necessarily yields output.