How to Follow the Right Star

"A much-loved Christmas story tells about the journey of the Magi-the three Wise Men who came seeking the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?" they ask. "For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." The essence of the tale is their unshakable faith in a worldly sign-a star in the sky-which the Magi trusted would guide them to the savior of the world."

"This story has inspired Christians for more than two millennia to believe that they can find metaphysical truth and eternal life by following something tangible-the words in a book, say, or a physical sacrament. For some nonreligious people, this belief might seem nonsensical or superstitious. Yet almost everyone acts in some analogous way in their regular life-just as almost everyone wants to be happier."

"The problem is that striving for happiness directly, in the abstract, is not possible. Instead, you must choose proxy goals: metaphorical stars in the sky that you can see and judge to lead you to the greater well-being you desire. This sounds right, but is it true? Is the star you choose really the one that marks the stable you hope to find? Consider the risk that your stated goals are a mirage and lead to nothing-or, worse, to un happiness."

A Christmas tale about the Magi illustrates faith in a visible sign—a star—as a guide to ultimate good. Humans cannot pursue happiness abstractly; they must adopt concrete proxy goals—metaphorical stars—that provide direction and allow judgment of progress. Proxy goals create manageable direction, enabling progress and temporary satisfaction and helping people cope with depression, anxiety, and adverse circumstances. However, proxy goals can be mirages that fail to produce lasting well-being or even cause unhappiness. The challenge is to distinguish reliable proxy goals that enhance long-term well-being from those that only offer short-term reassurance or mislead toward detrimental outcomes.

Read at The Atlantic