What makes a person genuinely happy? Money? Perfect job? Fame? Family?

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<p>This has been a topic that has been long-debated, so i'd like an opinion from everyone here. As the title says, what buys a person genuine happiness? Is it having loads of stinkin' cash? Is it being recognized by everyone? Is it having the perfect job? What's your opinion?</p>

<p>I recently watched the movie 'Click', and for those of you who haven't scene it (without spoiling it), there's a particular scene in which the character played by Adam Sandler wants to fast-forward three months of his life to where he gets a promotion in his job using this remote that could fast-forward life events. He then get's asked by the angel who gave him the remote if he remembers the Leprechaun from the cereal ad, in which he then says "He's always chasing the pot of gold, but when he gets there, at the end of the day, it's just corn flakes."</p>

<p>That, to me, is a deep quote that's got me thinking. It's basically saying that so many things that we think are important in life aren't important at all, and at the end of the say, "it's just corn flakes", not gold.</p>

<p>What;s your thought on this matter?</p>

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<p>This caught my eye as a passionate philosopher.</p>

<p>First, the easy parts I can answer right off the bat, in my opinion.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Money is not happiness, it is a means to acquire things that may have the ability to lead to happiness. A quote that best describes money and happiness: “If money isn’t buying you happiness, you’re using it wrong”</p></li>
<li><p>Recognition is just a part for some, a bit part for others, and not a part at all for a few.</p></li>
<li><p>The a satisfactory job will lead to happiness, but it is once again a part of a whole.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Now, to the big fish in the fryer.</p>

<p>It is very cliché, but happiness isn’t an object, it is a state of being, a way of living. You can’t simply attain happiness and stop everything, it will fade.</p>

<p>Going deeper into the question, I think you have to trace the possible evolutionary purpose of happiness. Why does it even exist? My answer: I like to think of emotions/happiness as the nervous system of the mind. It tells you when things are good and when they are bad. Thus, a link between need and happiness can be established through this proposed evolutionary link. So, happiness is achieved when all of the needs of a human are met.</p>

<p>So, the question is now “What does a human need?”</p>

<p>Well, first, we are almost all social creatures. So I would put in love (platonic or romantic will do), family, and friendship.</p>

<p>Next, physical intimacy. Originally there for species survival, it is still there for most of us.</p>

<p>Third, Security. Food, water, clothing, shelter, and the assurance of these commodities in the future.</p>

<p>Finally, frequent brain stimulation. This can be achieved many ways, and is what created advanced human society while also simultaneously the purpose it serves. We create our society, our art, our culture, for happiness. We also make our art, our culture, our math/science research for happiness.</p>

<p>Now, everyone will prefer different methods of brain stimulation, and the key is to find yours. I think that this difference is what differentiates us into the large categories we all see: artists, scientists, engineers, writers, leaders, organizers.</p>

<p>So, all that said, the answer could be best summarized by the following:</p>

<p>A person is genuinely happy when all of his needs are met. The goal is to come to know your needs, and then create a life that meets the needs.</p>

<p>Of course, just one opinion :D</p>

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<p>@PengsPhils: Very nice post. The thing i’ve realized about humans is that we never truly meet all of our needs. We do meet our current needs, but it won’t take very long for us to want to meet even more needs. It’s a huge flaw in our system, in my opinion.</p>

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<p>Very true. You might find yourself liking eastern philosophies, which focus on removing all needs as a way to find happiness. </p>

<p>Not sure how into music you are, but there is a very good album that came out recently called “Happiness Is” by Taking Back Sunday. The last song is called “Nothing At All”. I think it could be interpreted in the light of your point.</p>

<p>“Chase your desires until you find nothing at all”</p>

<p>While I agree, I don’t think it is a flaw. To extend the nervous system analogy, what if our nervous system, once it had no bad feelings anywhere, stopped working and was in that state? It would be useless then, and people would go around accidentally chopping off limbs without noticing. Happiness serves the purpose of helping to fulfill our needs. To fix that “flaw” would to defeat the purpose of happiness in terms of us.</p>

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<p>When it comes to specifics it varies from person to person. Some people seek stability, balance, a decent living, a family to be proud of, love, friendship, lots of connections, a high-ranking job, fame, skill. Some people would be perfectly content to go without some of these things in their lives (even love or friendships.) </p>

<p>I think the first fact of life is that you can’t have everything. Just look at Margaret Thatcher or anyone around you who juggles a job with family life. Stay-at-home parents have given up things, too.</p>

<p>The second fact of life is that you don’t need to have everything you want to be happy. It’s all about your attitude. Even if Murphy’s Law is wreaking havoc in your life lol, even if nothing seems under you control, there IS one thing that’s under your control, and that’s your actions and your thoughts. As long as you’re alive, you have the chance to be happy. I’m not saying it’s easy to be happy, but it’s really quite simple.</p>

<p>A third fact of life is that most of us, as humans, have an inclination towards enjoying interaction and intimacy, whether physical or mental, with others. So fulfilling relationships can, quite fortunately, sometimes outweigh many other pains in life. </p>

<p>If you’re looking for a broad statement, at the end of the day, I think true happiness for ANYONE is being able to look at your life and say, “You know what, I didn’t get everything I wanted and s!$% happened sometimes, but I’m glad that things happened the way they did and I’m happy that I met the people I did and I’m happy about where I am now,” and then to look forward to embrace the future. I think that’s when you know you’re happy.</p>

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<p>Laying in bed watching anime all day.</p>

<p>Just kidding. Well not really. Doing what I like makes me happy, simple as that. Could be studying the subject I like, working really hard in a personal or school project, having a job I like, buying stuff I like, and sometimes not do anything all day. I don’t think you can make generalizations like “money”, “recognition”, etc. I couldn’t care less about recognition. My mother would be just as happy with half her income, and if she had double she probably wouldn’t even notice. Although…</p>

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<p>Yup, this is true in general. A lot of people are unhappy because of financial reasons. A higher income would give them an ease of mind. Of course, like my example said, it doesn’t mean literally EVERYONE. Just most.</p>

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<p>Yes, you don’t realize how important mental health is until one of your children falls ill. I think it’s even worse than a physical disease. It makes it really hard for a person to succeed at work or in relationships. My 21-year-old son’s mental illness has changed my attitude about so many things! It’s very hard for me to be happy because I’m always worried about him. So be sure to appreciate your good health! It counts for a lot.</p>

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<p>Family! For me I have dreams about success and being financially stable of course. Of marrying my love and traveling the world. But what makes me most happy is when I visit my family in Peru and am surrounded by their love. Its constant flow of love surrounding us that changes your outlook on life. I don’t get that here in the states and the difference is astronomical. You’re a different person when its just you vs. when its you and 50+ loving family members. However, its about perspective too, if I’ve always had my family and do not know what its like to be alone and lonely then I might answer something else. </p>

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<p>Stuff I think would make me happy (I tried to give it some kind of order, but it’s not exact):</p>

<ol>
<li>Security in general. I want to know what will happen in the future. </li>
<li>Physical safety and health.</li>
<li>Mental health. </li>
<li>Well-being of people close to me. </li>
<li>Financial security, hopefully with a small amount of extra money so I can go to Starbucks. :slight_smile: But the careers I’ve considered don’t pay very well. </li>
<li>My parents’ love and approval. </li>
<li>Educational opportunities. </li>
<li>Respect from people close to me. </li>
<li>Enjoying my job. </li>
<li>Romance/being loved exclusively. </li>
<li>Not being bored. It sucks to be bored.</li>
<li>Abundant free time. </li>
<li>Conversations with other people. </li>
<li>Respect from acquaintances/strangers/society (as in, I don’t want people to look down on my career). </li>
<li>Admiration and awards for accomplishing things.</li>
<li>Being good-looking.</li>
<li>Junk food. </li>
<li>Good weather.</li>
</ol>

<p>In my experience I tend to go back to pretty much the same happiness level no matter what happens to me, but nothing has ever happened to me. </p>

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<p>I’d go with the enjoyment of one’s own work as a top priority for happiness.</p>