How one spends one’s time is the greatest choice one has
Time is one's most precious resource. One can earn more money, but one cannot create more time in one’s life
What one chooses to spend one’s time on is a reflection of what one values or in other words, what one chooses to give meaning too
Meaning (or the will to meaning) is the most base desire or main driving force in humans
After one’s basic needs are met, “housing, food, leisure time, psychological safety, etc,” pursuing meaningful things in life, can lead to happiness or is the only option in cases where happiness is not possible
Meaningful pursuits are unique to each individual. With 3 taking primacy:
Something meaningful to work on
Someone to love
A future to believe in
But the realization of the end result (the capture) is not what is meaningful, it is the pursuit (the chase) itself. The end result can be taken away from one, but the pursuit of the end result with its struggles cannot be taken away. The capture event may never occur, but the pursuit remains
The Chase is better than the Capture when the Chase has Meaning
Even in extreme cases, this logic holds, with Sispyhus from Greek mythology as an example. A system that could make Sisyphus happy, through meaning. The chase is where the meaning is found. The capture eludes Sisyphus every time his boulder rolls back down the hill. If he chooses to ascribe meaning to his struggle with the boulder, he can retain control and defeat disillusionment
Sisyphus was punished by the Greek gods for cheating death and outsmarting the gods. Which is why they punished him by creating his particular punishment. By creating meaning in his struggle with the boulder, Sisyphus can outsmart the Greek gods again. The meaning is in the chase, not the capture. The end result can be taken away, but not the pursuit
Even Sisyphus can find meaning in his pursuit
This is true for extreme circumstances in life where one cannot simply choose to be happy. Happiness is sometimes not possible, but choosing to give meaning to something is always possible. Even in the confrontation with death. By choosing to ascribe meaning to something, one can avoid being trapped in disillusionment
There is meaning in the chase of something, struggling bravely, or building a new future when a future is taken away. Suffering bravely can be an example of others. A simple heuristic can be setting an example for a loved one, children, or future children. Meeting a challenge well as an example to them