The other day I was feeling really depressed. I just wanted to stop feeling so annoyed and angry. So I sat down and played the new Excitebike game for the Wii. After trying to get an S-rank on one of the tracks for about 30 minutes, I finally suceeded. Afterwards I felt really good, and happy. Whatever it was that had made me feel as horrible as I had was gone.
That feeling that made me so happy, was a sense of accomplishment. Like I was able to do something amazing.
So I started to wonder, why was I so depressed, and why does artificial accomplishment (doing something that doesn't really matter), make me feel so good?
For the depression part, I think most everyone would understand. Everyday I do the same thing. I work, I pick up my son from school, I sleep, I eat, I do chores, I help my son with his homework, I play some games if I have time, I write or plan if I have time. When someone I haven't seen in three years asks me what's been happening, ... I really don't have an answer for them. I'm still at the same job, doing the same thing, still having money problems, still paying the same bills, the same credit cards. I haven't accomplished anything. I'm in the progress of doing something, but I haven't gotten there yet.
People want to feel like they've made progress. That's why games like MMOs can become so addictive. They make you feel better. Setting a goal for yourself and accomplishing it can also make you feel better, and in this case, you can do something for yourself. Your real self.
You've hit the proverbial nail on the head for me.
ReplyDeleteMon-Fri is Groundhog Day.
Sat-Sun is catch up.
When I game it nearly always lifts my spirits.
I think being a good father to your son is the greatest accomplishment any man can achieve. Trust me on that, as a boy who never knew his father.
ReplyDelete@anonymous:
ReplyDeleteI know, but I won't get the resulting feeling of accomplishment until I see it through to the end, until then I get small boosts, which really help. I grew up without a father as well.
@jamesy: It's good to hear that I'm not alone in this. I didn't think I was, but other people always seem so happy. :P There's a certain amount of solitude to the daily grind.