Some people achieve great financial wealth and professional success, and yet they feel miserable. Other people may not achieve great financial wealth but still achieve professional success and feel wonderful. Still others may achieve neither, and yet, they may be either content or miserable. So its obvious that neither financial wealth nor professional success (either together or separately) necessarily brings about happiness in life. What does?
2007-01-11 16:57:36 · 29 answers · asked by G A 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think I'm going to have a very difficult time choosing a "Best Answer" for this one since there are so many terrific answers already. Please keep them coming!
2007-01-11 18:14:39 · update #1
Being true to yourself. Really, I meaning really, doing the best you can (even if you fail then, you know you have given it your best shot.) NEVER NEVER NEVER, lie to yourself, even if you don't speak it out loud. Respect yourself. Never give all of yourself away... its OK to have a little piece all to your self. Let your heart be bigger than your pride. Remember no-one is perfect, its OK to fail sometimes. Only trust your own research! But the key, and most important.....LOVE. Real love, not lust.....LOVE!
2007-01-11 17:07:42 · answer #1 · answered by deanna.brownlee@verizon.net 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think the real question to seek out the answer to is this...What do happy people have in common? I bet if you went out and did a survey of happy people in all parts of the world, in all races, all religions, all economic backgrounds and all educations, most of all of them would say they have some form of love in their lives. It is kind of like the difference between two siblings who have grown up in the same home with the same violence brought upon them and the same experiences in their childhood lives. One will succeed and grow and flourish into a terrific human being and the other will fail and wallow in self pity and angst. If we just can be touched by one other person in our lives it can make such a difference. It could be the granny who cared for you while your parents wouldnt , it could be the stranger who smiles and says thank you on your worst day, it could be the man behind you in line that gives you an extra 14 cents when you are short. You know what I mean? A very wise old woman said once that there are two important meanings to happiness: giving and receiving. We all could stand to give more of our love, time and smiles to the world. But sometimes letting others give you charity or help or a hand up in a hard time makes them feel love and happiness in their lives as well as yours. All things in this world, as in all worlds, happen for a reason. There are no mistakes, only lessons to learn from. So if you are really looking for happiness in life, read a book to a small child, visit your local nursing home and hold someones hand, or let someone hold yours. Inside each of us is an untapped fountain of peace and happiness just waiting to be discovered. But dont forget to share the drink once you find it. :O)
2007-01-11 17:48:06 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe that there is a secret to life. What is key is to be comfortable and happy with who you are. To constantly drive onself to being superior can make some miserable the entire way, only to find out that many others have beat you there. This is because it is not your drive to be superior. It's is getting to know yourself, what you want, what you can handle and handle well. Trying to appreciate each day as if it were your last. Try to remember how insignificant some things truly are if you knew you were going to die within one week. Sometimes just plain ambition is a beautiful emotion.
2007-01-11 18:09:05 · answer #3 · answered by soozemusic 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The secret of Life? --- the secret is to respect it as its-self and give more then we expect to receive. We are observers as well as participants and so we can make it better for all by understanding the joys,pains,poverty,wealth and hardships one finds along the way and give it our best to support all life around us in every way possible with-in. Realizing the limit or success, is directly related to the acceptance of the life we seek to support as well as the sincerity and intensity of our motive. I think a good start is found in the mirror.
2007-01-11 20:04:51 · answer #4 · answered by canvasman 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The secret of life, or rather as you really seem to be asking, how to be happy despite your circumstances is that happiness is internal, not external.
We make conscious decisions as to how we react to our circumstances. Some people react to adversity by feeling victimized and powerless and impotent. Others by fighting back and triumphing over adversity. They actively take action to overcome and feel better by doing this. Sometimes even anger can be the step you need to get up and take action to get to a better feeling place. It's not where you want to stay forever, but it gives you the impetus to go on and search for a better feeling.
Some people react to good fortune by thinking that "yes, I deserve this and I am going to enjoy it all", and others react by thinking that "I don't deserve this and I'm just fooling the world, and someday someone is going to find out that I don't know what I'm doing or that I'm a fraud and it's all going to be taken away." These people live in constant fear of losing their good fortune, whether it be financial, career, love and are miserable in spite of it.
How we react to our circumstances is the secret to life!
2007-01-11 19:11:05 · answer #5 · answered by LindaLou 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe true happiness really stems from one's sense of spiritual awareness, no matter what religion or philosophy you follow....
Taking quiet solitary moments to oneself, being able to feel the richness in spirit w/others or w/only yourself and feel goodness around you
*Like taking a nature and taking photos
*or sitting down in an apple orchard doing some journalism while listening to the birds while viewing over the tree's, the sky, listening to the wind blow
*taking a nice drive enjoying ur favorite music and noticing the sun go down behind the bare branches in the winter
*having compassion for wildlife, the environment-urself and everyone you know
Generally it's the richness of spirit that is truely fulfilling and only grows
Material "happiness" is really just a temporary satisfaction that eventually fades, like lust
True contentment has always a down-to-earth quality to it
*also giving to other's has a real sense of fulfillment. but never forget to give to yourself as well. We are all one you know
2007-01-11 17:12:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
The secret of LIFE : if its a secret its only because men and women have chosen to not pay attention to the bible.The bible declares that God created heaven and earth and all life. but many men do not want to beleive that truth.They rather would beleive a lie and still end up in the hell that God tells us exists,but many of them deny that too. So my answer is to the secret of life question is that men and women should recognize God for who he is and obey him for their own sakes thru Jesus Christ his son., before Jesus returns, once he returns it will be too late. Now is the day of salvation-come to the Lord while he may be found.Happiness and peace of mind and contentment are a part of the blessings that we receive as Christians, but we must hear -romans 10:17-beleive-hebrews 11:6--repent-luke 13;3--confess- romans 10:9 and 10--be baptized (immersed)- mark 16:16--1peter 3 :21-and live a Godly faithful life. Their may be people in this life because of high moral values that they live a peaceful life and maybe even somewhat of a happy one but a life without God in it is a life without its creator and without its savior and therefore has no hope, please read:2john: 9th verse.The knowledge that as a person i have kept my soul from destruction and that i have obeyed the God of heaven and complied with his will concerning me is a very comforting state of mind, this knowledge is a secret not because God would hide it but because men would ignore it or not even consider that this bible information is not only vividly true but the future of earth will reveal how true it really is, consider these things and read the bible and seek and find that peace and happiness that only the creator of life can give, read proverbs 3rd chapter--and study the new testament of what Jesus taught.
2007-01-16 05:42:22 · answer #7 · answered by comingonthru 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the secret to life is simple i don't know why no one has thought of it before and why it seems to elude so many people but perhaps it is the simplicity of it all that keeps it hidden. Some climb great mountains in order to ask some old man,others go across the sea and sit for days,weeks,months, even years to ask a monk or holy man. some give up all they own and wander the earth seeking the answer, but you know what the secret of life is? Do you? well I'll tell you.....damn the phone's ringing I'll be right back.
2007-01-11 20:03:56 · answer #8 · answered by older_fat_male 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nobody will never get contended. Contenment can not be acheived by earning more money or power. One must learn to be contended. Blessed are those who live happily even when they are having little. More rich and powerful is the person, more is the price they must pay for happiness. A very poor person can bring smile to the face of his wife even by bringing a packet of sweets for her but for getting the same smile on the face of his wife, a very rich man will have to go for diamond.
2007-01-11 17:12:20 · answer #9 · answered by Tashi 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The secret of life is realizing that it can be over at any time, so spend your time being happy and not taking anything too seriously. You can only do your best in what you are doing. stressing out about things is a waste of time if you have already done all that can be done. So just breathe and live.
2007-01-11 17:09:27 · answer #10 · answered by irssvt 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
A great question excercising great minds in many climes and times with no universally satisfactory answer. One has to find and make do with an answer that suits one's own temperament and outlook. Personally of the many philosophers and religious founders I find helpful : Marcus Aurelious 's cosmic outlook which behoves us to be aware of our almost utter insigniface and transience in context of the boundless cosmos and eternity and Buddha's teachings as regards strive and contentment .
2007-01-11 17:23:06 · answer #11 · answered by hardy 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋