People often fall into the trap of conditional happiness, believing that their joy is contingent upon future events such as promotions, relationships, or possessions. This mindset is linked to the arrival fallacy, where individuals mispredict both the intensity and duration of happiness that these milestones will bring. Research shows that achievements often provide less satisfaction and for a shorter time than anticipated, leading to a cycle of disappointment. Instead of reaching a state of happiness, individuals find themselves perpetually seeking the next milestone, revealing that genuine contentment cannot be deferred to future conditions.