Sadness and hopelessness are not caused by a lack of options, but a *perceived* lack of options. This perception is created by self-imposed rules and an unwillingness to make difficult trade-offs. To find solutions, you must question what you see as impossible.

This framework defines anxiety and depression by their relationship to loss. Depression is an emotional state consumed by losses that have already happened, while anxiety is a state consumed by potential losses that may never occur. Both conditions are fundamentally rooted in the experience of loss.

Evolution shaped mood to manage energy investment. Positive mood encourages us to double down when pursuits are rewarding. Conversely, low mood acts as a brake, preventing us from wasting energy on unpromising ventures. This reframes it as a strategic withdrawal rather than a simple malfunction.

"Frankl's Inverse Law" suggests that for some, an inability to experience joy leads them to over-prioritize meaning and delayed gratification. The constant pursuit of hard things becomes a noble excuse to avoid the discomfort of not feeling happy.

The depression of someone chasing wealth is often buffered by the hope that money will solve their problems. The true psychological danger comes *after* achieving financial success, when you realize your non-money problems persist. This can lead to a profound and debilitating sense of hopelessness.

The pursuit of perfect, uninterrupted happiness is a futile goal that leads to misery. Negative emotions are a natural and necessary part of life. A better approach is to aim to be 'happier' than before, viewing happiness as a direction, not a final destination.

Like astronauts who walked on the moon and then fell into depression, hyper-achievers can struggle after massive successes. They forget how to find joy and adventure in smaller, everyday challenges, leading to a feeling of "what now?" and potential self-destruction.

Reaching a long-sought-after career milestone, like a specific promotion, can unexpectedly lead to depression and a sense of aimlessness. The "chase" provides direction, and without a new goal to replace it, you can feel lost, like a dog that has finally caught the car it was chasing.

The brain maintains a pain-pleasure balance. Constantly triggering pleasure (dopamine) causes the brain to overcompensate by activating pain pathways, leading to a chronic dopamine-deficient state that manifests as anxiety, irritability, and depression.