As people choose what they desire, and seek what they desire, they will discover themselves in a feedback loop. Depending on what they choose to desire first, they will find themselves in a cycle where each thing they choose to desire proves itself to be a milestone on the path to what they seek rather than what they seek itself. Just as springs form tributaries that flow into a mighty river, with each discovery, the individual will find themselves getting closer and closer to what they really yearn for, deep down inside. All desires move you closer on the path to eventual fullness of joy.
Suppose someone desires to be rich. If they seek riches with all their capability, they will discover that being rich does not fulfill what they really desired. If they are honest, they will have to admit that what they wanted was something more transcendent. If they are wise, they will realize what they really wanted all along was joy, and that they mistakenly believed it to be found in money. This same line of thinking applies to all desires but joy.
It is for this reason that the scriptures instruct us again and again to focus on becoming like God. God is exactly what one needs to be to have a fullness of joy, and a fullness of joy is the greatest thing one can desire.