Examples of the former include chasing a dream job, starting a company to make it big, buying lottery tickets, searching for a beautiful wife/husband, engrossing oneself in hobbies, and living for the weekends. Both the path and the result can produce happiness. But the pursuit is rather indirect. In all cases, the pursuit is chosen because we believe it will result in great happiness (for ourselves and for others) when a particular milestone is reached, or an experience is felt.
In the latter, happiness is pursued directly. Its causes and conditions are studied, and it is approached with the explicit goal of increasing happiness for ourselves and others. We learn what livelihoods and mindsets lead to more happiness, and which do not. There is no proxy that must be achieved before happiness is experienced; happiness itself is the goal.
Which do you think is more effective?
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