"If all consciousness is subject to essential laws in a manner similar to that in which spatial reality is subject to mathematical laws, then these essential laws will be of most fertile significance in investigating facts of the conscious life of human and brute animals."
-Edmund Husserl

Like a flashlight in a dark room, consciousness can only illuminate a small area at any given time. We rarely stop to question where the flashlight points and why, or what the effects of it pointing in one direction as opposed to another are. I would argue that the effects are profound. A number of seemingly distinct psychic struggles find a common origin in misplaced focus.

Happiness is focusing on what you have as opposed to what you don't have. Self-esteem is focusing on what you like about yourself as opposed to what you don't like. Enthusiasm is focusing on what you like about an endeavor as opposed to what you don't like.