How Would You Measure Success In Life?

[CosbehFox]

Contentment. 

 

I have had a remarkably lucky career wise where the 'actual holy shit' worries are vastly reduced. I've always been humble but on my scale of what I want to do in my spare time, I have a lot 'space' now. I was a slow starter in this respect. 

[bovril]

Like Kenneth Clark on civilisation, I think success is hard to define but you know it when you experience it.  

[Ashley]

For me? Personally right now I'd consider it successful.

 

In a good job, my partner is too. We've got a nice house, car and can afford to go on holidays etc. 

 

Already have one little boy and my daughter has just come into the world. The best family and friends around us too. 

 

Greatful for everything.

[VLC86]

Difficult to define.

 

I guess being happy, making other people happy and getting to see/experience as many different cultures as I can.

[bovril]

Two days away from retirement, daughter's graduating from college, and once we've nailed Mendoza my old lady and I are going to sail around the world like we've always wanted, we just christened the boat. 

[fox_up_north]

Happiness really. At the end of the day, we all die and about 50-60 years after that, anything we did ceases to be remembered or really impact people. Only special, special cases are exceptions (good and bad). 

 

I have a modest house, modest lifestyle and I don't really worry for stuff. Could I have nicer holidays and earn more? Sure but would the trade off be more worry? Not for me, thanks. 

Edited 1 March 2023 by fox_up_north

[leicsmac]

4 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

Happiness really. At the end of the day, we all die and about 50-60 years after that, anything we did ceases to be remembered or really impact people. Only special, special cases are exceptions (good and bad). 

 

I have a modest house, modest lifestyle and I don't really worry for stuff. Could I have nicer holidays and earn more? Sure but would the trade off be more worry? Not for me, thanks. 

And for some people, wanting that kind of legacy, for good or bad, defines their own lives.

 

It is interesting reading the answers here and seeing how diverse they are.

[whoareyaaa]

17 hours ago, Izzy said:

I think many people go through life thinking they'll be happy once they become successful.

 

Successful as in a good job/career, financially free, nice house/car etc. but I know lots of people who 'appear' successful but they're not happy.

 

The media is full of examples of 'successful' people who are depressed, so money/fame/status can't be the only answer.

 

My measure of success is deep contentment/peace of mind/comfortable in my own skin/spiritually connected, healthy, and happy.

 

Happiness leads to success much more often than success leads to happiness....

 

 

This

[HighPeakFox]

Being as true to myself as possible, and trying to be the best version of myself so I don't pollute the world for others, actually and spiritually. 

[deejdeej]

Up until 7 or 8 years ago I thought going out, getting drunk and wasting weekends either completely off my face or hungover was what living was all about. 

 

Met the Mrs and slowly started appreciating days out and nights in much more. I still enjoy the occasional few drinks with mates but taking my son to his football matches now on a Sunday fills me with more happiness.

 

I got married last year, we've had a home for about 5 years and I'm in a stable job in a team leader role. I do weights 3 days a week and 2 days of cardio and I get such a buzz from fitness.

 

My Dad died last month out of the blue and despite it hurting like hell I'm in a much better place to deal with such a traumatic life event and my main goals now are doing him and my newly widowed mum proud, I'm so glad my dad was still alive to see me sort my life out and I'll carry on his legacy of helping others out of sheer kindness.

 

In short I think life is about being happy and proud of yourself, helping others and making those you love happy and proud.

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, deejdeej said:

Up until 7 or 8 years ago I thought going out, getting drunk and wasting weekends either completely off my face or hungover was what living was all about. 

 

Met the Mrs and slowly started appreciating days out and nights in much more. I still enjoy the occasional few drinks with mates but taking my son to his football matches now on a Sunday fills me with more happiness.

 

I got married last year, we've had a home for about 5 years and I'm in a stable job in a team leader role. I do weights 3 days a week and 2 days of cardio and I get such a buzz from fitness.

 

My Dad died last month out of the blue and despite it hurting like hell I'm in a much better place to deal with such a traumatic life event and my main goals now are doing him and my newly widowed mum proud, I'm so glad my dad was still alive to see me sort my life out and I'll carry on his legacy of helping others out of sheer kindness.

 

In short I think life is about being happy and proud of yourself, helping others and making those you love happy and proud.

Sorry to hear about your Dad 

[Raj]

Too many people gauge success by material things and how many likes they get on instragram or whatever.

No one seems to just be content and live for the now instead of looking to these fecking influencers.

I'm 52, got a great family, nice house, mortgage free, have savings etc and have an okay job.

The main thing is my family is healthy and we have a laugh and get on.

I've got a good circle of decent family and friends and I think after you've actually lived abit of a life you realise not to look at others and just be content.

I'm content!

 

Edited 1 March 2023 by Raj

[Izzy]

6 minutes ago, Raj said:

I'm content!

And a miserable old Git! 

[Raj]

40 minutes ago, Izzy said:

And a miserable old Git! 

And not afraid to admit it!!!

Hence my ever increasing ignored users to reduce negativity!

(You will NEVER be on that list)😘

[Trav Le Bleu]

7 hours ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

By whether I drive a premium brand SUV.

 

Of course I don't mean that, I just wanted to know how it feels to say it

 

 

 

Welcome to living up to your name.

[Guest Electric Yetis]

55 minutes ago, Raj said:

Too many people gauge success by material things and how many likes they get on instragram or whatever.

No one seems to just be content and live for the now instead of looking to these fecking influencers.

I'm 52, hot, a great family, nice house, mortgage free, have savings etc and have an okay job.

The main thing is my family is healthy and we have a laugh and get on.

I've got a good circle of decent family and friends and I think after you've actually lived abit of a life you realise not to look at others and just be content.

I'm content!

 

Modest too 😃

[Milo]

So, the happy clappy ‘be a good person’ type answers on here…

 

Is that a measurement of success?
 

Is that contentment?

 

Is it just the bare minimum that we should all be aspiring to? 
 

Is there a difference for some between contentment and perceived success? 
 

For me, the ‘I was a good person/did good things/was kind to others, etc’ answer is more a deathbed reflection rather than an ongoing measurement of success. 
 

Or…is that the only true time to measure success?

 

Questions, questions 

[Foxdiamond]

4 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

Being as true to myself as possible, and trying to be the best version of myself so I don't pollute the world for others, actually and spiritually. 

The late wonderful actor Paul Eddington said he hoped people would say he did very little harm. Which is not easy to do.

[Benguin]

2 hours ago, Milo said:

So, the happy clappy ‘be a good person’ type answers on here…

 

Is that a measurement of success?
 

Is that contentment?

 

Is it just the bare minimum that we should all be aspiring to? 
 

Is there a difference for some between contentment and perceived success? 
 

For me, the ‘I was a good person/did good things/was kind to others, etc’ answer is more a deathbed reflection rather than an ongoing measurement of success. 
 

Or…is that the only true time to measure success?

 

Questions, questions 

The reason for this is so obvious to me but will get me banned and annoy everyone so I’ll keep quiet. 
 

I think people with these views should really challenge themselves from both an epistemological stand point and a soteriological stand point by asking themselves “why do I think that?” “What does it mean?” “Does it matter?” And “So what?” 

[Raj]

5 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

Being as true to myself as possible, and trying to be the best version of myself so I don't pollute the world for others, actually and spiritually. 

Not enough spirituality in the world.

You don't have to be Buddha or Mother Teresa but too many people think Love Island is the epitome of success!!!

[Nalis]

Money and body count

[Parafox]

5 hours ago, deejdeej said:

In short I think life is about being happy and proud of yourself, helping others and making those you love happy and proud.

My job has done exactly that.

 

I thought I was doing that already until I became a Paramedic. I then realised I fell somewhat short. 

 

Not now.

 

 

[grobyfox1990]

34 minutes ago, Benguin said:

The reason for this is so obvious to me but will get me banned and annoy everyone so I’ll keep quiet. 
 

I think people with these views should really challenge themselves from both an epistemological stand point and a soteriological stand point by asking themselves “why do I think that?” “What does it mean?” “Does it matter?” And “So what?” 

What is the reason? It’s certainly not obvious to me. I have many other things to get annoyed about so won’t get annoyed at a comment on an online football forum 

[Parafox]

3 hours ago, Milo said:

So, the happy clappy ‘be a good person’ type answers on here…

 

Is that a measurement of success?
 

Is that contentment?

 

Is it just the bare minimum that we should all be aspiring to? 
 

Is there a difference for some between contentment and perceived success? 
 

For me, the ‘I was a good person/did good things/was kind to others, etc’ answer is more a deathbed reflection rather than an ongoing measurement of success. 
 

Or…is that the only true time to measure success?

 

Questions, questions 

That's complete bollox

[Mike Oxlong]

I don’t know about success but seeing your children make their way in life having  good values gives me the most happiness