Pleasure should be a result, not the objective

Pursuing pleasure usually ends in disappointment.  A Netflix binge, overeating, mindless scrolling… they leave us unsatisfied.

On the other hand, pleasure derived  from higher pursuits is deep and lasting.  Whether accomplishing something difficult, contenting ourselves with simplicity, doing our duty, or developing a regard for the Divine, pursuits of purpose and transcendence bring something deeper.

In 1100 BC, King Solomon, likely the world’s first trillionaire, explained in his memoir how he had given himself to the pursuit of pleasure.  After many disappointing ventures, he concluded that seeking pleasure for pleasure’s sake was meaningless.  His biography ends with these lines:

“Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God!  This is what life is all about.”  Whether you subscribe to spiritual pursuits or not, higher objectives, secular or sacred, provide a better path to pleasure and satisfaction.

#PursueGreater