Why do we always want what is bad for us?

Our brains are wired to be reward-based and our ‘reward’ is the feeling of comfort that, in turn, triggers a release of dopamine or the ‘feel good’ hormone. This causes us to crave more of it and so we associate this good feeling with the bad habit.

Why do humans desire things?

Desire is intimately connected to pleasure and pain. We feel pleasure at the things that, in the course of evolution, have tended to promote the survival and reproduction of our species, and pain at those that have not. Things like status, sex, and sugar are wired to be pleasurable, and therefore desirable.

Are desires good or bad?

Contrary to what some people think, desire can actually be quite a good and necessary part of being human. Desire is not the enemy to a happy and balanced life. It is not a roadblock to experiencing a higher self. In fact, desire can often be the driver for all that greater awareness and consciousness we so often seek.

What is the cause of desire?

Mill suggests that a desire for an object is caused by an idea of the possible pleasure that would result from the attainment of the object. The desire is fulfilled when this pleasure is achieved. On this view, the pleasure is the sole motivating factor of the desire.

Why do we do things we know are bad for US?

Well, there is a handful of explanations, really. Let’s take a stab at dissecting some of the driving forces behind why we do things that we know are bad for us: 1. Peer Pressure

Why do we indulge in habits that we know are bad?

We all indulge in behaviours that we know aren’t good for us and there are a couple of reasons why we continue these habits regardless. The first is our need to feel comfort and doing whatever it takes to reach this state.

What is a bad habit?

We all know what a bad habit is. Smoking, eating unhealthy foods, excessive alcohol consumption and living a sedentary lifestyle are just some of the things that are drummed into us as behaviours we ought to avoid in order to increase our overall well-being.

What would life be like without desires?

Desires constantly arise from within us, only to be replaced by yet more desires. Without this continuous stream of desiring, there would no longer be any reason to do anything: life would grind to a halt, as it does for people who lose the ability to desire.