The Happiness Myth and Post-Achievement Depression

Setting and achieving goals is often associated with a happiness myth where the anticipation of achieving the goal is far greater than the actual accomplishment. This is known as post-achievement depression or postpartum depression in relation to achievement. The phenomenon is exemplified by the experience of the author of 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F' when he achieved his dream of becoming a best-selling author and went through the hardest depression of his life. Similarly, a significant percentage of people who achieve weight loss goals end up gaining the weight back and experience a similar feeling of disappointment. This suggests that the pursuit of goals and the anticipation of achieving them can create unrealistic expectations, leading to a sense of disillusionment and disappointment upon reaching the goal.