Considering we live in a capitalistic society, the more capital, the better:
But for the sake of what?
Capital & motivation?
Maybe the carrot and stick in modern-day capitalist society is… The promise of future gain and capital, capital growth is what keeps us going?
Therefore, inherently, capital capitalism is both motivational and also optimistic? 
Capital for the sake of what?
Once you got your basic living, needs an expenses covered, why have additional capital?
Number go up is what brings us joy?
So the first idea is… Just seeing the number go up, whatever your account or metric is… Is highly joyful because the signals to you again a strength and power.
It’s kind of like weightlifting… The joy of any weightlifter is to see his or her numbers go up in terms of his or her personal record in terms of his or her one repetition, maximum, personal record of how much he or she could lift.
goals?
This is the trigger thing… Honestly hitting a goal is kind of a little bit overrated. For example, for dead lift, do you want to hit four plates or five plates or six plates or seven plates, 400 pounds 500 pounds 600 pounds 700 pounds 800 pounds,
I think this is also why a lot of people who are no longer at their prime or peak get so depressed because, they remember the past version of themselves in which they could lift 1000 pounds, but now they could only lift 500 pounds.
Also, this is probably the problem of bodybuilders because a lot of guys who take steroids and whatever… Often rate their self-worth by how much they weigh, like I used to be 300 pounds with a six pack, but now I’m only like 160 pounds.
anchoring yourself to your past self?
I think it’s human nature to anchor ourselves with numbers or stuff. Like for example… If you’re once a billionaire and now you’re only worth 500 million or 100 million… Certainly you’re going to be much more depressed than somebody who started off poor and finally gained $1 million.
This is also where competition with others is not a good idea because it doesn’t make sense to increase yourself with to somebody else, and you have no idea if they’re taking steroids or whatever.
anchoring to your past self?
So then the big idea is… If you have once reached a certain summit,,, is it useful or a good idea to increase yourself to that past summit?