I suppose we could live as if life was just about you or me and our own wishes and desires. However, the strange thing about only focusing on what we want is that it is incredibly unsatisfying.
Maybe for a moment, it’s exciting. We achieved our goal and got some fancy thing or hit a milestone. Hooray! But then it’s in the past.
As we get more and more, we want more and more. But also as we get more, it becomes less and less satisfying.
I’ve come to the conclusion that we are not merely born for ourselves. There is a greater purpose in the physical realm and a great spiritual purpose to life which does not terminate on how happy we feel at any moment.
It’s probably tied up in fulfilling your moral duty. When you do your duty, you find real happiness and contentment in this life, and beyond.