How Would You Measure Success In Life?

[Sampson]

6 hours ago, Daggers said:

I reject the term success as much as I do failure. In order for either to have validity you need a comprehensive measure, and one does not exist. That people invent ridiculous ways to prove the value of their life demonstrates the pointlessness of the process.

Of course this is true but for most people it’s really hard to function if you don’t have something to strive towards and try to aim for. Everyone has their own subconscious goals of what they want to do that day whether it’s achieve something incredible, spend quality time with friends and family or just finish the latest tv show 

 

I think ultimately being “successful” is always going to change because of the old thought process of “once I achieve that, what then?” And there’s loads of examples of people striving towards a huge goal in life and then feeling empty and depressed afterwards because they’ve lost their sense of purpose. 
 

It’s why ultimately most people settle on giving themselves a very modest overall goal in life, like just enjoy it and enjoy spending time with friends and family, because huge career or travel or financial goals are always going to be temporary

 

and few are likely going to really look back on their deathbed realistically and think “wow what about that successful business I ran in my 30s” over thinking about the memories you made with your partner or children.

[Bellend Sebastian]

23 minutes ago, Daggers said:

Honestly, I don’t think the NHS will get that bad. I’m sure they’ll still provide the regular treatment for haemorrhoids. 

They were described as "pretty hefty", but they still went for the more traditional banding to treat them.

 

Another quote from the consultant: "Sir, are you an athlete?" My blood pressure is so low it takes someone putting a camera up my arsehole for my heart rate to go up to what's considered normal

[Bellend Sebastian]

And that, my friends, is a true measure of success

[Benguin]

3 hours ago, Sampson said:

Of course this is true but for most people it’s really hard to function if you don’t have something to strive towards and try to aim for. Everyone has their own subconscious goals of what they want to do that day whether it’s achieve something incredible, spend quality time with friends and family or just finish the latest tv show 

 

I think ultimately being “successful” is always going to change because of the old thought process of “once I achieve that, what then?” And there’s loads of examples of people striving towards a huge goal in life and then feeling empty and depressed afterwards because they’ve lost their sense of purpose. 
 

It’s why ultimately most people settle on giving themselves a very modest overall goal in life, like just enjoy it and enjoy spending time with friends and family, because huge career or travel or financial goals are always going to be temporary

 

and few are likely going to really look back on their deathbed realistically and think “wow what about that successful business I ran in my 30s” over thinking about the memories you made with your partner or children.

Is it just me who reads this as:

 

”There is no ultimate standard”

“Ultimately you’re right, there is no ultimate standard”

 

🤷‍♂️

[Unabomber]

On 28/02/2023 at 20:12, Benguin said:

In Christ

 

I’m not religious but the amount of laughing emojis at this is a joke. 

[Daggers]

3 hours ago, Sampson said:

Of course this is true but for most people it’s really hard to function if you don’t have something to strive towards and try to aim for. Everyone has their own subconscious goals of what they want to do that day whether it’s achieve something incredible, spend quality time with friends and family or just finish the latest tv show 

 

I think ultimately being “successful” is always going to change because of the old thought process of “once I achieve that, what then?” And there’s loads of examples of people striving towards a huge goal in life and then feeling empty and depressed afterwards because they’ve lost their sense of purpose. 
 

It’s why ultimately most people settle on giving themselves a very modest overall goal in life, like just enjoy it and enjoy spending time with friends and family, because huge career or travel or financial goals are always going to be temporary

 

and few are likely going to really look back on their deathbed realistically and think “wow what about that successful business I ran in my 30s” over thinking about the memories you made with your partner or children.

Aha. But we’re veering away from a definition of success towards a decent conversation about philosophy - something I’m pretty sure has never existed on FT before. 
 

 

[foxfanazer]

On 01/03/2023 at 18:34, Nalis said:

Money and body count

I'm guessing you're a slut and not a serial killer?

[Paninistickers]

8 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

Sounds cheesy but seeing the people my children are growing up to be is my proudest achievement. Never applied myself in any aspect of life to be successful unfortunately 

Agree. My life is staggeringly unremarkable. I have a deep seated and well suppressed self loathing that I've been too timid and too lazy to truly test my limits. But then the flipside...., I look at those who have pushed themselves to the limit and frankly, their lives ain't that different to mine. 

 

Which means for me, having two polite, switched on, funny, well balanced kids gives me a small sense of 'mission complete' 

[notnow john]

I won’t feel successful until I have separate drawers for pants and socks.

[The People's Hero]

Success is getting up in the morning and going to sleep in the evening and in between doing whatever the hell you want to do.

[Daggers]

58 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

Success is getting up in the morning and going to sleep in the evening and in between doing whatever the hell you want to do.

[pmcla26]

Happiness.