Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#1

Post by wheresvic4 » Sun, Nov 14, 2021, 7:49 AM UTC

Steps Towards Happiness (2015)
hintjens.com

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#2

Post by nodejs_rulez_1 » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 9:44 AM UTC

The intentions there are good, but reads bit unrealistic in some places. Being a boomer, author doesn't realise how far financially he is then many people who are younger.

> Stop wasting your time on commuting, boring jobs, meetings, TV. Do only things that you feel are worthwhile, with people you like. If this means a cut in income, so be it.

TV - sure, commuting - thanks to COVID only, the rest - sorry, but I would like a house/pension/family.

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#3

Post by 59125throwaya » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 9:55 AM UTC

nodejs_rulez_1 wrote: post #2

The intentions there are good, but reads bit unrealistic in some places. Being a boomer, author doesn't realise how far financially he is then many people who are younger. > Stop wasting your time on commuting, boring jobs, meetings, TV. Do only things that you feel are worthwhile, with people you like. If this means a cut in income, so be it. TV - sure, commuting - thanks to COVID only, the rest - sorry, but I would…

Worth taking a 5 second look into Peter's background. He was overall a pretty amazing dude.

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#4

Post by yesbut » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 9:56 AM UTC

Anger and happiness are extremes. Shoot for contentment.

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#5

Post by kubb » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 10:06 AM UTC

In a world where you have to be worried about where you're going to live, none of this applies. Survival takes priority.

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#6

Post by Cthulhu_ » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 10:18 AM UTC

nodejs_rulez_1 wrote: post #2

The intentions there are good, but reads bit unrealistic in some places. Being a boomer, author doesn't realise how far financially he is then many people who are younger. > Stop wasting your time on commuting, boring jobs, meetings, TV. Do only things that you feel are worthwhile, with people you like. If this means a cut in income, so be it. TV - sure, commuting - thanks to COVID only, the rest - sorry, but I would…

> If this means a cut in income, so be it

I mean, if I had the luxury of taking a cut in income without having to sell my house or whatever, I wouldn't mind. But as it stands, it's a luxury I and many others just can't afford.

And I don't 'waste' my time on commutes either, WFH and all. My commute, once the office is open again, is actually the main exercise I get (20-30 minute bike ride)

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#7

Post by amelius » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 10:19 AM UTC

kubb wrote: post #5

In a world where you have to be worried about where you're going to live, none of this applies. Survival takes priority.

Yes, perhaps this is a better framework:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#8

Post by jackhiggs » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 10:19 AM UTC

nodejs_rulez_1 wrote: post #2

The intentions there are good, but reads bit unrealistic in some places. Being a boomer, author doesn't realise how far financially he is then many people who are younger. > Stop wasting your time on commuting, boring jobs, meetings, TV. Do only things that you feel are worthwhile, with people you like. If this means a cut in income, so be it. TV - sure, commuting - thanks to COVID only, the rest - sorry, but I would…

I agree, but I'm going to go in harder.

The author seems to think that people have infinite time. Many points require an allocation of time that most people - in particular those with families and caring responsibilities - do not have.

Remove bad actors? What if the bad actor is the mother/father of your kids? What if they're a parent who requires care you/they can't afford so you have to do it yourself?

It's all so simple isn't it. 10 steps to banality.

It could be rewritten as "have enough money to do what you want without being overly concerned about the consequences, because you can make the consequences someone else's problem with your money"

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#9

Post by HamburgerEmoji » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 10:21 AM UTC

Step 10 seems to be about equanimity. If you find it hard to be equanimous, there is very old practice that will help you cultivate it. https://library.dhammasukha.org/uploads/1/2/8/6/12865490/the...

Re: Steps Towards Happiness (2015)

#10

Post by bremac » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 10:28 AM UTC

jackhiggs wrote: post #8

nodejs_rulez_1 wrote: post #2

The intentions there are good, but reads bit unrealistic in some places. Being a boomer, author doesn't realise how far financially he is then many people who are younger. > Stop wasting your time on commuting, boring jobs, meetings, TV. Do only things that you feel are worthwhile, with people you like. If this means a cut in income, so be it. TV - sure, commuting - thanks to COVID only, the rest - sorry, but I would…

I agree, but I'm going to go in harder. The author seems to think that people have infinite time. Many points require an allocation of time that most people - in particular those with families and caring responsibilities - do not have. Remove bad actors? What if the bad actor is the mother/father of your kids? What if they're a parent who requires care you/they can't afford so you have to do it yourself? It's all so…

For what it's worth, Peter wrote this a little more than a year before he died due to metastatic cancer. I suspect he understood quite well that time is finite.