Pain and Pleasure 

There are two primal forces which control us: seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

Taken from Freud's  Pleasure Principal, this mode of behavior aims to satisfy biological and psychological needs at our core. 

Yet if this was the case, why do we do willingly do things that cause us pain?

We are we still having people die from obesity and smoke cancer? 

Surely we know smoking, drugs, alcohol, gambling, fast food etc. are bad for us, yet the companies who make products these aren't without customers.

Why is that?

The answer is in the balance of the two forces. 

We will typically associate more pleasure to the hear and now, than the pain it will cause in the future.

For example, exercise. 

I'd hazard a guess that majority of people hold the belief  that it feels better to not exercise, than to exercise

Because we are associating more pain to exercising than to not exercise, even though the pleasure (and benefits) of it are just as  commonly known.

Take in inverse, fast food.

It feels better to eat fast food, than to avoid fast food. 

Even though later you are in pain and it has long term negative effects. 

So, what can do to combat these forces so that it benefits us long term? Here are a few ways



Only by getting familiar with these two forces can we see if it's serving us for the long run or just instant gratification.

Cheers,