At the end of the day all any of us can do is play the odds, and sometimes while playing X-Com that 99% chance-to-hit point blank shot by your most experienced soldier with the best equipment simply misses.
If your long-term objectives mean sacrificing (or delaying) happiness in the now, then I think you're doing the wrong thing.
It's all well and good to have long-term objectives, and we all hope we beat our life expectancy numbers, but you have to make every effort to be happy now, and not wait for some distant and uncertain future that may or may not become reality.
Yes, exactly.
Happiness now (because now is guaranteed) and (hopefully) happiness later too.
But whatever you do, don't put off happiness now.
Why put money into my 401k that I can't touch without penalty for 40 years when I could enjoy it now?
Being content and at peace with oneself in the moment is possible, and should be striven for. But for my part I'd have a hard time being content with myself if I wasn't striving for better for both myself and my family.
In my experience the only lasting satisfaction in life comes from discharging meaningful responsibilities, that requires some sacrifice of momentary happiness. Happiness is great when it's around but has no staying power, and too many people get sucked into miserable hedonism while trying to turn it into a constant.
> Today I sacrificed alcohol I would have enjoyed
It does not mean you have sacrificed happiness. You can (I hope) be happy without drinking.