This makes the wrong assumption that happiness comes with success. Success doesn’t bring happiness. If anything, being happy in the first place is what gives you a better chance at achieving success.
contentment > happiness > success
It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
51–60 of 119 posts
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
mind if I ask what changed?
I wish I could figure out. My best guesses are: 1. I am getting older and not doing anything remotely impactful. 2. People half my age know all the programming I know. I don't bring anything special to the table. 3. Is this what life is all about? Now, I don't say the problem is with the world. Something could be wrong with me. But damned if I know.
Not all impact needs to be at-scale. Perhaps you can make a difference outside of work, and/or at a local or individual level? While the systems crowd that congregates on HN may discount this kind of "last mile" effort, it can be deeply fulfilling (we are social animals after all) and have life-altering positive effects on recipients.
I don't know if that speaks to your situation at all. Either way, I wish you (individually) self-understanding and happiness. ^__^
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
mind if I ask what changed?
I wish I could figure out. My best guesses are: 1. I am getting older and not doing anything remotely impactful. 2. People half my age know all the programming I know. I don't bring anything special to the table. 3. Is this what life is all about? Now, I don't say the problem is with the world. Something could be wrong with me. But damned if I know.
Have you tried going to church and making babies?
Serious question.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#54Posts like these give me some hope. I am 37 and lost. The work and career which once brought pleasure now seems drudgery. The daily morning battle is: "Is it worth it?". There is no answer to the question.
Are you really lost if you can recognize you're lost?
I always figure the point of spiritual malaise and existential wandering is to prune away the false hopes and beliefs that keep us mildly entertained and encourage us to seek out eternal hopes that provide daily rejuvenation. Ecclesiastes is always a comforting read whenever I feel that way:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1&...
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#55Posts like these give me some hope. I am 37 and lost. The work and career which once brought pleasure now seems drudgery. The daily morning battle is: "Is it worth it?". There is no answer to the question.
Might I suggest, with sincerity and humbleness, that the question is a very good start and maybe it's not uncertainty holding you back but fear?
Where do you go when you keep asking "I'm dying, not much time left, is it worth it?"
I mean, is it?
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#56Charles Bukowski immediately came to mind while reading the list of late bloomers.
Ray Kroc, Walter White too
Ray Kroc was already a successful salesman by most ordinary standards, and then became extraordinarily successful. Walter White narrowly missed out on a place as a co-founder of a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company. Neither is really a late bloomer.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#57Aside of success != happiness - I really do NOT know what I'm supposed to do. I'm in corporate world since 2005, I'm doing OK, but not great and I'm dreaming of success, which to me means:
1. work for myself, not for any company - that's hard to start because of mortgage and kids which are taking 90% of my free time
2. Earn around the same money I have now
3. Have something that can grow, doesn't have to be fast growing, just a bit quicker than inflation.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#58As a Hindu who believes in reincarnation, it gives me a sort of patience that certain things may not be possible for me this lifetime, and that's ok. It doesn't make me try for any less, but I am less attached to the outcome.
Same here. I am not really a Buddhist and don't really believe in reincarnation but it still gives me a sense of peace that maybe this life is not really that important. rationally it doesn't make sense but it gives me peace.
The notion that this life is not really that important is the only rational conclusion we can make
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
mind if I ask what changed?
I wish I could figure out. My best guesses are: 1. I am getting older and not doing anything remotely impactful. 2. People half my age know all the programming I know. I don't bring anything special to the table. 3. Is this what life is all about? Now, I don't say the problem is with the world. Something could be wrong with me. But damned if I know.
"...demanding excellence in all that we do ...steals from us one of life’s greatest rewards — the simple pleasure of doing something you merely, but truly, enjoy"
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/opinion/sunday/in-praise-...
Re: It's Never Too Late to Be Successful and Happy
#60This makes the wrong assumption that happiness comes with success. Success doesn’t bring happiness. If anything, being happy in the first place is what gives you a better chance at achieving success.
It also makes some horrific assumptions about 'success', borrowed unthinkingly from one narrow strand of contemporary hyper-consumerist crap culture. I certainly wouldn't call Kroc nor Sanders 'successful'.
That was my thought, what does "successful" mean if not "being happy". Someone living comfortably and loving every day is more "successful" than someone stressed out and crying on their private cruise liner.