4 ms·

> People who chase happiness as their primary meaning to exist usually are not very interesting and highly materialistic. Personally I would have chosen this u

> People who chase happiness as their primary meaning to exist usually are not very interesting and highly materialistic. Personally I would have chosen this unflattering label for people who were pushed from birth into a particular career path and just followed along.

corbulo 4y ago
Those kinds of people often have a highly warped idea of what happiness is. Usually imagined, consciously or subconsciously, as a magical oasis where their parents are satisfied with them and they 'make it'. Those who do 'make it' realize thats not how it works and burn out.
vineyardmike 4y ago
Personally, I would think that some people are destined to be happy, just as some are destined to be a "genius". I understand the sentiment that chasing happiness without "purpose" or consideration to the world around you might make someone vain and hedonistic but I don't think that applies to being career driven. I do think a strong career drive (esp. external) will not make you happy, and may even be a source of discontentment.
- lapcat 4y ago
  > Personally, I would think that some people are destined to be happy, just as some are destined to be a "genius". I think the submitted article tried to make clear that just being a gifted child isn't sufficient to become a "genius", and favorable circumstances play a big role in turning giftedness into exceptional accomplishment. Thus, wouldn't the same apply to happiness? Even if there were natural predilections toward happiness, circumstances can play a big role too in bringing the predilections to fruition. Perhaps one needs to be "tutored" about how to become happy.
  - emodendroket 4y ago
    That's probably true. It's a well-loved aphorism that money can't buy happiness... true enough, but not having money is certainly a source of unhappiness in small and large ways.

4 ms·

> People who chase happiness as their primary meaning to exist usually are not very interesting and highly materialistic. Personally I would have chosen this u

by emodendroket 4y ago

corbulo 4y ago
Those kinds of people often have a highly warped idea of what happiness is. Usually imagined, consciously or subconsciously, as a magical oasis where their parents are satisfied with them and they 'make it'. Those who do 'make it' realize thats not how it works and burn out.
vineyardmike 4y ago
Personally, I would think that some people are destined to be happy, just as some are destined to be a "genius". I understand the sentiment that chasing happiness without "purpose" or consideration to the world around you might make someone vain and hedonistic but I don't think that applies to being career driven. I do think a strong career drive (esp. external) will not make you happy, and may even be a source of discontentment.
- lapcat 4y ago
  > Personally, I would think that some people are destined to be happy, just as some are destined to be a "genius". I think the submitted article tried to make clear that just being a gifted child isn't sufficient to become a "genius", and favorable circumstances play a big role in turning giftedness into exceptional accomplishment. Thus, wouldn't the same apply to happiness? Even if there were natural predilections toward happiness, circumstances can play a big role too in bringing the predilections to fruition. Perhaps one needs to be "tutored" about how to become happy.
  - emodendroket 4y ago
    That's probably true. It's a well-loved aphorism that money can't buy happiness... true enough, but not having money is certainly a source of unhappiness in small and large ways.