How Do You Define Success And Happiness?

[J_trustno1]

Can you differentiate the two or you're confused?

I personally think that success is different to a lot people and everyone relates to it differently.

For myself, I feel that success and happiness are two different things. You can be happy even if you are living on the street and you can still be miserable even if you lived in a mansion. For me success is when I learn something and use my skill to overcome my issues.

I know that a lot of these things sound made up to you because I have been miserable the entire of last year when I had nothing to do thinking that I'll be happy when I get a job or at least have something to do. I am thankful for achieving this but I still feel that my internal happiness is missing. I see happiness in small things for example : eating an ice cream, talking to like minded people, eating a healthy meal, being able to do things I was deprived of.

However, one thing I don't understand is that why happiness is short lived while success or other material things come and go from our lives? What should happiness and success be in an ideal world? Why happiness can be achieved from even small things why success itself is BIG word?

Lastly, thank you all for replying to my last thread. Sorry I haven't gotten on to that thread and replying to people's views as I have been busy the entire week. I'm free on the weekend so I'll do it tomorrow.

Thanks for reading my post. I'm looking forward to hearing your views.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

My soon to be ex husband is confused. He does nothing for his own happiness and he thinks work makes him happy (and other people/parents happy). Instead he is successful and unhappy.

Live for you. Live for what makes you happy. I'm trying that now, trying to do things, get into lines of work I know I can look at and see happiness, well-being. It's almost morally right for me. I think success can be gained from that.

 

[illusionist]

To me success is when I do something to feed my happiness. It could be baking a cake..I feel happy with the result, it's a success. Working....I feel happy when I'm contributing and able to reap the financial rewards...no matter how small. The success of growing a plant from seed...the end result feeds my senses and makes me happy. The success of my relationship feeds my happiness in many ways. There are so many day to day things we are successful in, if we allow ourselves to see them.

 

[WillyKat]

I was about to say that I've given up on happiness, but that's not accurate. I focus on having purpose and meaning in my life, and finding that brings me fulfillment.

I have some kind of issue with the word "happiness". I think that its come to mean partying, frivolity. And for some it means drunkenness and irresponsibility. Victor Frankl once said that happiness can't be had because people are too busy pursuing it.

Maybe someday, following purpose and meaning will bring me happiness, but if not, hey its not so bad.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I am a success when I am happy. It really is as simple as that. I don't see rich people as successful. Many did nothing for their money and are miserable human beings.

 

[holdenmonty]

To me success would be to feel happiness the vast majority of the time so for me they tie in together. I know I won't be successful all the time and won't be a lot of happiness all the time but at least the vast majority of the time like maybe at least 80% of the time.