We Don’t Chase Pleasure. We Chase the Idea of Pleasure

James Clear. Atomic Habits. p. 260

It is the idea of pleasure that we chase. We seek the image of pleasure that we generate in our minds. At the time of action, we do not know what it will be like to attain that image (or even if it will satisfy us).

Nitpick: Saying “we” generate the image implies that we have some control over the image that we generate. But we don’t control our thoughts (much). The image comes from elsewhere (conditioning, advertising, socializing, …).

• Better: We seek the image of pleasure that is generated in our minds.

• Clear paraphrases Victor Frankl: Happiness cannot be pursued, it must ensue. “Desire is pursued. Pleasure ensues from action.”