all reasons for living lead to happiness - alive why

reasons for living and how they overlap, conflict and complement

the final outcome is that we become more happy as a result
which is the only choice we have
...not really a choice
more a dna chemical imperative

meaning

there is at least one book which proposes that our reason for living is the search for meaning
that is the name of the book, " the search for meaning"
by victor frankl

that is true

but why do you want meaning

because finding meaning
results in contentment

so your final outcome is happiness
as with all of our goals

friends

you want to have friends because then you
have a future
have a purpose
have meaning

family

the final outcome is that we become more happy as a result

to be useful

you want to be useful so you can have
meaning
future
friends

the dalai lama says
to be happy you need to be useful
so
to be useful is a way to be happy

the final outcome is that we become more happy as a result

to have a future

people want to have a future because then they
have function
have meaning
have purpose
can contribute

the final outcome is that they become more happy as a result

to excel

some want to excel in some area

people want this because
they then
have meaning
have purpose
have a future

the final outcome is that people become more happy as a result

romance

people want romance because it provides
function
purpose
a future
meaning
connection with people

romance

romance and true love etc
are all sought for various superficial reasons
but they eventually lead to happiness
or that is what we hope

success

success is sought for superficial reasons
such as wealth social status control dominance
but the final outcome is happiness

discovery

it is a basic drive from infancy
for us to seek knowledge/information
it is no surprise that this is helpful for survival
at all stages of human development
what makes us do this is the reward
of happiness, delight, enjoyment

philosophy

to understand life is an aim many people strive for
the final result they seek in this endeavour is contentment
or a similar positive emotion

fitness

there is obvious benefit to dna in human physical fitness
the carrot of happiness generally follows efforts at keeping fit
thus the endorphine release

curiosity

revenge

avoid death

altruistic motives:

be good
make a difference
help others
help the poor
help animals
help the environment
world peace

there is crosstalk between the different superficial reasons we have for living
some reasons are similar
like meaning and purpose
some reasons lead to others and vice versa
having a function often leads to having friends
having friends often leads to having function
people mostly have at least several reasons
one reason works at some times and others work at other times
but they are all aimed eventually at achieving happiness
happiness or contentment or satisfaction is our goal
the multiplicity of reasons for living
and thus paths to happiness
can result in conflict between different paths
and the competing paths themselves become a source of unhappiness,
since they make the search for happiness more difficult