Often, the happiness that results from irrationally formed beliefs goes along with irrationally formed goals. For example, people who think that they are universally liked often have the goal of being liked by everyone. Although it is surely rational to want to be liked, it is, for most people, hopeless to try to be liked by everyone. A balanced, rational view of how things actually are needs to be combined with a balanced, realistic view of how they ought to be, if we are not to be disappointed. If one’s goals are as rationally formed as one’s beliefs about how well one’s goals are being achieved, accurate beliefs need not be disappointing.
-Jonathan Baron
Ah, but goals and desires are different things.