In Pursuit of Happiness
Discussion
This is an interseting post....
I've had a pretty rough time of things over the last year that I've been posting here. I won't bore you with the details.
I found the site as a result of searching the web for someone I knew at university. I've had my disagreements with some people here, others inform me and make me laugh.
I don't really have much choice but to be pretty much on my own, and by consideration that's not a bad thing because I'm a lonely sort. I enjoy my own company.
Critically as LA says, everybody needs company. I can't thank you all enough for posting, both when you annoy the hell out of me, and when you make me laugh. You've helped me immesurably.
I've had a pretty rough time of things over the last year that I've been posting here. I won't bore you with the details.
I found the site as a result of searching the web for someone I knew at university. I've had my disagreements with some people here, others inform me and make me laugh.
I don't really have much choice but to be pretty much on my own, and by consideration that's not a bad thing because I'm a lonely sort. I enjoy my own company.
Critically as LA says, everybody needs company. I can't thank you all enough for posting, both when you annoy the hell out of me, and when you make me laugh. You've helped me immesurably.
dilbert said:
This is an interseting post....
I've had a pretty rough time of things over the last year that I've been posting here. I won't bore you with the details.
I found the site as a result of searching the web for someone I knew at university. I've had my disagreements with some people here, others inform me and make me laugh.
I don't really have much choice but to be pretty much on my own, and by consideration that's not a bad thing because I'm a lonely sort. I enjoy my own company.
Critically as LA says, everybody needs company. I can't thank you all enough for posting, both when you annoy the hell out of me, and when you make me laugh. You've helped me immesurably.
You are damn welcome there Andrew
shadowninja said:
The truth is that true happiness lies within.
That is so true. My father asked me a few years back, when I said that I was longing for some nice bedroom furniture, "Would it make you happier?" "No!" I replied. I then reailised that possessions cannot help you to become happy. Happiness comes from reaching a sense of satisfaction with what you have, be it friends, family, health, the roof over your head. Inner happiness is so difficult to find and I think how lucky those who have found it are. If you don't have happiness then nothing else really matters. It is a sad fact that many people like Ian do not share their deepest thoughts with others, despite being surrounded by wonderful family and friends, people who love them dearly.
One of the things that struck me while travelling in Sub-Saharan Africa last year was just how fantastically happy and friendly the children seemed compared with the UK, especially given extreme poverty and Aids.
Most of them had virtually no material possessions but were full of life and great fun.
Have we become conditioned by the media and western materialism to believe that a highly paid career and a myriad of expensive possessions is essential to be happy ?
...... which then makes people miserable from the unattainability of vast wealth ?
Most of them had virtually no material possessions but were full of life and great fun.
Have we become conditioned by the media and western materialism to believe that a highly paid career and a myriad of expensive possessions is essential to be happy ?
...... which then makes people miserable from the unattainability of vast wealth ?
alfaman said:
Have we become conditioned by the media and western materialism to believe that a highly paid career and a myriad of expensive possessions is essential to be happy ?
...... which then makes people miserable from the unattainability of vast wealth ?
It does make us blathering on about megacars that perhaps 0.1% of the worlds population could afford and perhaps 1% of those people might want seem a little, well, narrow.....
I was working at Virgin last month, and I was given a task involving putting together Sir Richard's ten-point mission statement, based around a book he'd written with nine chapters. I had to glean the tenth one from it.
I worked it out after reading chunks from every chapter. the message was, quite clearly, 'it's not about the money'.
If Branson had only been bothered about the money he would have given up years ago. He wouldn't have bothered dabbling with airlines and railways which I'm sure most people who have used them would attest, really are a massive improvement on what was there before, because they weren't guaranteed to make masses of money. He explains quite frequently that money is the tool you use to make something happen, not the thing itself.
Now you might say that that's alright for him to say that, but I believe it's important for all of us to remember that if money - something that never has a definite 'conclusion' to it - is the sole focus of your life and your mind, you will never be satisfied with your 'lot'.
I know a few people who are eye-poppingly rich, yet if you just met them in the pub you'd never guess, and that's because the drive behind their lives, the things that make them happy, are things you can't really put a massive price on - sport, driving, walking, views, friends, camaraderie, making things.
I also knew a lot of people at university who were only interested in making money, and inevitably gravitated towards Megabank PLCs. They are surely the most insecure people I've ever met, hell-bent on letting everyone know how materially well they're doing when in truth their only goal is early retirement.
I'd echo both Richard Branson, and also Greg Dyke who spoke at my graduation, in saying that the key to happiness in life is to seek out what you truly enjoy and pursue it. And if that thing is money, I'd recommend that you take a good, long, hard look at yourself before that particular fire consumes you. As Branson says, it's a tool, not a goal.
I worked it out after reading chunks from every chapter. the message was, quite clearly, 'it's not about the money'.
If Branson had only been bothered about the money he would have given up years ago. He wouldn't have bothered dabbling with airlines and railways which I'm sure most people who have used them would attest, really are a massive improvement on what was there before, because they weren't guaranteed to make masses of money. He explains quite frequently that money is the tool you use to make something happen, not the thing itself.
Now you might say that that's alright for him to say that, but I believe it's important for all of us to remember that if money - something that never has a definite 'conclusion' to it - is the sole focus of your life and your mind, you will never be satisfied with your 'lot'.
I know a few people who are eye-poppingly rich, yet if you just met them in the pub you'd never guess, and that's because the drive behind their lives, the things that make them happy, are things you can't really put a massive price on - sport, driving, walking, views, friends, camaraderie, making things.
I also knew a lot of people at university who were only interested in making money, and inevitably gravitated towards Megabank PLCs. They are surely the most insecure people I've ever met, hell-bent on letting everyone know how materially well they're doing when in truth their only goal is early retirement.
I'd echo both Richard Branson, and also Greg Dyke who spoke at my graduation, in saying that the key to happiness in life is to seek out what you truly enjoy and pursue it. And if that thing is money, I'd recommend that you take a good, long, hard look at yourself before that particular fire consumes you. As Branson says, it's a tool, not a goal.
alfaman said:
One of the things that struck me while travelling in Sub-Saharan Africa last year was just how fantastically happy and friendly the children seemed compared with the UK, especially given extreme poverty and Aids.
Most of them had virtually no material possessions but were full of life and great fun.
Have we become conditioned by the media and western materialism to believe that a highly paid career and a myriad of expensive possessions is essential to be happy ?
...... which then makes people miserable from the unattainability of vast wealth ?
I remember reading an article about stress, it concluded that the countries with the highest rates of stress are the richest ones, with the USA coming out on top. A lot of poorer nations like you describes were listed as being the happiest.
Plotloss said:
People who say money cant buy everything, dont know where to shop...
But surely everything that is bought is ultimately empty as its worth can be ultimately reduced to a few notes.
Think about the most important couple of things to you in your life - I bet you didn't 'buy' them.
vixpy1 said:
I'm sorry but Money and Power are the reasons why people dabble in business..
anyone who says other wise is lying or quite mad
Power, rather than money I'd guess. Power, although it's debatable in terms of merit, is at least something of a goal. To be able to exert influence to change the world around you, even in just minor ways, is a way of fulfilling your life.
Also, as I said, money is the tool, not the goal. I bet most people with large amounts of money have a hobby or a passion that they pour a significant amount of it into - boats, paintings etc. Cars are a case in point, but the truly satisfied rich car fans enjoy driving their assets. I can't imagine those yuppies who bricked up their brand new Testarossas in the '80s in the name of resale value were very 'satisfied' people.
Twincam16 said:My daughters, and actually in a round about way I suppose I did. You see I went out, got pissed, bought their mum a drink, threw in a few witty lines and a wink or two and the rest, as they say, is history.
People who say money cant buy everything, dont know where to shop...
But surely everything that is bought is ultimately empty as its worth can be ultimately reduced to a few notes.
Think about the most important couple of things to you in your life - I bet you didn't 'buy' them.
Twincam16 said:
People who say money cant buy everything, dont know where to shop...
But surely everything that is bought is ultimately empty as its worth can be ultimately reduced to a few notes.
Think about the most important couple of things to you in your life - I bet you didn't 'buy' them.
I'm not disputing the fact that money can't buy happiness, but the fact that top businessmen are not driven by money or power..
Richard Branson is known to be a right bastard where business is concerned.
vixpy1 said:
I'm sorry but Money and Power are the reasons why people dabble in business..
anyone who says other wise is lying or quite mad
I tend to agree from my experience in Brewing and Banking ....... particularly in Banking the pursuit of personal wealth and power subordinates absolutely everything.
A couple of very successful entrepreneurs I know are driven by the challenge to create and grow a business , and money is a major element.
What intrigues me though is that even having made £20m ish , at the age of 59 my friend still works 60+ hours a week and shows no signs of stopping.
Nick P said:
I wish Ian had talked to us, or we had seen he had problems.......
The problem is people who are planning suicide seriously ie not like a small overdose cry for help thing never give any clues about their plans or problems.
When my uncle took his life it came out of the blue almost as he discharged himself from the local Psychitratic hospital and told everyone he was fine.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff