> that all positive emotions are intrinsically transient.

As you seem to understand, they are literally that. In fact, all emotion is transient and it's good to acknowledge that.

We're programmed that way for a reason. Once you achieve a goal, you get a momentary burst of dopamine that fades fairly quickly. After that you're meant to find a new goal, not sit around living happily ever after.

The real problem is that people don't understand that there are at least two types of happiness: hedonic and euadamonic. Those who think they can achieve lasting hedonic happiness are doomed to to become addicts of one sort or another. Those who understand euadamonic happiness stand at least some chance at a more lasting joy based less on dopamine and more on a sort of contented striving.

Echo words here.

Modern worlds are led by traumatized, through pathological education and media propaganda, with a undertone of those being hurt and damaged to fear for others suffering the same (while they subconsciously are aware that their suffering is actually their own misfortune that are not actually shared to 90% of the population).

I am still feeling that the overall goodness is still the dominant the human trajectory. Even the traumatized leaders know instinctually when they are close to a sane & happy person. The force of life's energy seems inescapable, like the quantum fabrics that waves everyone's whole existence.

I strive for a “simple” lifestyle not because I believe it will be enjoyable. Quite the opposite. A simple lifestyle is much more laborious, arduous, and mentally taxing in terms of all the minutiae I need to worry about to achieve even modest levels of comfort. E.g. Do I have enough wood stored for the winter?

I strive for a simple life because it gives meaning to life, and a connection to the earth and other living things. It keeps me resilient in the face of hardship and less reliant on other people. It also provides a connection to the past and our heritage.