Would you rather your life be meaningful or happy?

[Adam16121]

I’m aware that you can have a happy and meaningful life. What I am asking is, would you burden yourself with a difficult life, a painful life, if it was for a purpose that you consider more important than your own happiness? Or would you consider an unhappy life not worth living, regardless of the impact it has on others?

Srs thread is srs

[DuracellBunny]

I’m aware that you can have a happy and meaningful life. What I am asking is, would you burden yourself with a difficult life, a painful life, if it was for a purpose that you consider more important than your own happiness? Or would you consider an unhappy life not worth living, regardless of the impact it has on others?

Srs thread is srs

Is it possible to be truly happy living a life without meaning?

[monster0ultra]

Is it possible to be truly happy living a life without meaning?

Hunter Biden definitely and objectively has a happier life than you, me, or anyone.

[DuracellBunny]

Hunter Biden definitely and objectively has a happier life than you, me, or anyone.

No he doesn't. He does all that stuff to try and make himself happy, but it doesn't work, so he keeps chasing it.

Addicts are not happy people.

[EiFit91]

Meaningful

[Adam16121]

Is it possible to be truly happy living a life without meaning?

A meaningful purpose in life usually comes with burden. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, etc. Less responsibility often means more freedom, and many people associate freedom with happiness. Freely choosing to live a difficult life doesn’t seem to immediately make any sense.

[monster0ultra]

No he doesn't. He does all that stuff to try and make himself happy, but it doesn't work, so he keeps chasing it.

Addicts are not happy people.

Happiness at the end of the day is chemicals in the brain and his brain is flooded 24/7 with the highest quality hookers and crack that money can buy. That's why I said objectively.

I've never done opioids but if you talk to anyone who has, they'll all tell you that it produces the exact same feeling as happiness, just 100x stronger.

[DuracellBunny]

A meaningful purpose in life usually comes with burden. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, etc. Less responsibility often means more freedom, and many people associate freedom with happiness. Freely choosing to live a difficult life doesn’t seem to immediately make any sense.

Look at all the incel NEETS living in their parents basements, without any responsibilities: are you really trying to tell me they are happy?

All the happy people I know have a purpose; whether that is raising their kids, nursing sick animals back to health or whatever.

All the rudderless NEETs are miserable fks.

[SirFapsAIot]

Happiness at the end of the day is chemicals in the brain and his brain is flooded 24/7 with the highest quality hookers and crack that money can buy. That's why I said objectively.

I've never done opioids but if you talk to anyone who has, they'll all tell you that it produces the exact same feeling as happiness, just 100x stronger.

damn what a sad, pathetic, nihilist

[imbored21]

i just want a gf

[Adam16121]

Look at all the incel NEETS living in their parents basements, without any responsibilities: are you really trying to tell me they are happy?

All the happy people I know have a purpose; whether that is raising their kids, nursing sick animals back to health or whatever.

All the rudderless NEETs are miserable fks.

Yeah, I see that as well. Easy lives aren’t always happy lives. But what about a situation where you sacrifice a passion, or pathway to your own fulfillment, so that others (who you love) may have a better chance of reaching theirs? Is that burden a good enough purpose to deviate from what you want for yourself? Is selflessness more meaningful than fulfilling your personal dreams?

[DuracellBunny]

Yeah, I see that as well. Easy lives aren’t always happy lives. But what about a situation where you sacrifice a passion, or pathway to your own fulfillment, so that others (who you love) may have a better chance of reaching theirs? Is that burden a good enough purpose to deviate from what you want for yourself? Is selflessness more meaningful than fulfilling your personal dreams?

Who is to say that doesn't bring them greater happiness than what they "sacrificed"?

If a mother can only feed herself or her child, feeding her child and going hungry herself will make her happier than feeding herself and seeing her child go hungry.

[Godfrd824]

I have everything I want in life. I'm very happy. I understand that my life won't be anything grandiose, I won't have helped humanity advance, nothing of that sort. I'm fine with that. Given where I started from, I've achieved much more than I ever thought I would.

All that said, what I want more than anything else is to be able to raise my children in a manner that would allow them to reach heights I never could. That would allow them to help advance humanity if they so choose. I can imagine my children putting in the work necessary to achieve the education required to be part of the team that discovers the cure for Parkinson's for example. I'm a small way that would give my life meaning, I can then say I did at least one thing right in life.

[Adam16121]

I have everything I want in life. I'm very happy. I understand that my life won't be anything grandiose, I won't have helped humanity advance, nothing of that sort. I'm fine with that. Given where I started from, I've achieved much more than I ever thought I would.

All that said, what I want more than anything else is to be able to raise my children in a manner that would allow them to reach heights I never could. That would allow them to help advance humanity if they so choose. I can imagine my children putting in the work necessary to achieve the education required to be part of the team that discovers the cure for Parkinson's for example. I'm a small way that would give my life meaning, I can then say I did at least one thing right in life.

Then you have both. Happiness and the opportunity to give others that you love a chance at it. Could you choose between those things? What if giving them that chance cost you everything, and left you in abject poverty? Forced to work until death. None of your other passions or dreams fulfilled. Would you do it?

[Godfrd824]

Then you have both. Happiness and the opportunity to give others that you love a chance at it. Could you choose between those things? What if giving them that chance cost you everything, and left you in abject poverty? Forced to work until death. None of your other passions or dreams fulfilled. Would you do it?

I'm a very boring person. I don't have dreams apart from what I already mentioned. As a man, a proper life is a life of sacrifice, and that sacrifice doesn't end until you either die, or everyone you care for dies. The only way I wouldn't be happy is if those that I care for die before I do.

[Adam16121]

I'm a very boring person. I don't have dreams apart from what I already mentioned. As a man, a proper life is a life of sacrifice, and that sacrifice doesn't end until you either die, or everyone you care for dies. The only way I wouldn't be happy is if those that I care for die before I do.

So, you live by the belief that, to be a man, you must be willing to sacrifice everything for others? That you should live for others?

[Godfrd824]

So, you live by the belief that, to be a man, you must be willing to sacrifice everything for others? That you should live for others?

Yes. Tell me, would you not sacrifice everything for your children?

[Adam16121]

Yes. Tell me, would you not sacrifice everything for your children?

I would. Which makes me think about the value of personal power and personal dreams. Many want both when they are young. Lately, I’ve been thinking, neither are deserved, unless you find something more important than them first. Something that you would give them away for.

[fuzzysoup]

I think a meaningful life would make you happy, but a happy life would mean you're just using antidepressants or other substances to mask your meaningless life, I dunno kinda makes you think

[Godfrd824]

I would. Which makes me think about the value of personal power and personal dreams. Many want both when they are young. Lately, I’ve been thinking, neither are deserved, unless you find something more important than them first. Something that you would give them away for.

People are never happy with what they achieve. It's the working towards it and what that entails that makes someone happy. Why do you think so many of the rich and famous kill themselves or OD after making it.

Lol at all the scandals with all these politicians, and then look at Jimmy Carter. A man who lives to help others, a man who is being reproach in his personal life.

[Adam16121]

I think a meaningful life would make you happy, but a happy life would mean you're just using antidepressants or other substances to mask your meaningless life, I dunno kinda makes you think

And sadly, many people go that route.

People are never happy with what they achieve. It's the working towards it and what that entails that makes someone happy. Why do you think so many of the rich and famous kill themselves or OD after making it.

Lol at all the scandals with all these politicians, and then look at Jimmy Carter. A man who lives to help others, a man who is being reproach in his personal life.

What I get from this is that to be both happy and powerful means to understand that power is a burden. That in the end, you are a servant to those who you can help with that power. And from there, you can begin to be happy.

[DuracellBunny]

And sadly, many people go that route.




What I get from this is that to be both happy and powerful means to understand that power is a burden. That in the end, you are a servant to those who you can help with that power. And from there, you can begin to be happy.

It's like getting the highest score on a videogame. You get the highest score and then you turn round and play the game again, to try and beat it. Getting the highest score didn't make you happy; playing the game did.

The way we are built, working towards a goal is more important than achieving it, as when we achieve it, we just turn around and set a new goal.

This is how it works with children and grandchildren; you can set something in place that won't come to fruition until after you die. You will never get to see or experience it, but knowing what you did will allow it to happen means you die happy.

[Godfrd824]

And sadly, many people go that route.




What I get from this is that to be both happy and powerful means to understand that power is a burden. That in the end, you are a servant to those who you can help with that power. And from there, you can begin to be happy.

Life is a burden. Anything worthwhile is hard. That's the world we live in.

[j1nevertogthr]

Meaningful, I'd rather be remembered for generations, have statues erected of what people think I may have looked like, be in history books, something along the lines of genghis khan or Alexander the great, it loathes me I have to settle for this meaningless life

[mr.left hook]

I'll take Happiness

[Adam16121]

I'll take Happiness

Could you be happy with the knowledge that your life amounted to nothing? I imagine so tbh. I think most people could be happy if they kept themselves oblivious to anything beyond themselves. That seems easy enough. But could you continue to be happy knowing that your happiness comes at a cost? That many others could have been better off if you focused on something outside of yourself?

[JayJ350]

Happiness brings meaning. Trying to impress others will result in being miserable.