It is widely agreed that desire is a key prerequisite for suffering.
This does not necessarily mean that desire is bad but does mean one possible way to cope with suffering is to try to negate and remove ones own desires. There are other possible ways to cope with suffering. For example, one can accept suffering and desire and try to embrace them. Also, one can apply a combination of coping strategies and not just one.
However, recently I have been wondering if all negative desires that lead to suffering all ultimately come from the want of happiness or joy. Now, just because the desire for happiness can lead to pain sometimes doesn't necessarily mean it is evil or bad. Perhaps, the desire for happiness has some other positive qualities? But I personally am still leaning towards thinking that the desire for happiness is ultimately a worse choice than other motives such as the desire for correct and moral action.
Unfortunately, I am not sure how to approach rating these different approaches to life as I am already questioning the usual "default" utilitarian rating of which approach brings the most happiness and least suffering. I suppose if I was an anarchist like Max Stirner or a nihilist I might ultimately declare something like "I desire to do what I desire to do and in the emptiness and meaningless of the void I need no justification for the choices of my ego" but this seems tautological to me.
One approach I have been considering is that happiness is ultimately contentment with ones situation and so leads to stasis. I think that I would prefer to change and grow over being content and staying the same. For this reason, I think I prefer suffering over happiness.