It motivates us to possess that which is ephemeral, and to acquire fulfillment which is at best fleeting. Vedanta says no. Fundamentally, Vedantic philosophy asserts the path of proactive living. Every individual has the capacity to realize that which will provide longer lasting and more substantial fulfillment in life. Moreover, each of us has the power to re-configure our mind patterns such that we tap into these sources.
Awareness progresses in stages, and each stage brings forth different levels of realization.
As we begin to question and study our existing nature, we can almost become observers of ourselves. We have the power to step out of our mental reality and to develop a detached perspective on our motivations and goals. It is this detached awareness of our self which will allow us to transcend the destructive conditionings each of us have acquired in the course of our lives. Awareness allows us to become detached from the day to day volatility we experience. We understand that a desire or a goal is really a choice we are making to pursue something.