Posts Tagged ‘ happiness ’

Following the mould

There are plenty of smart people in this world who have followed the conventional wisdom of going to school, getting good marks, and getting a good job. There are also plenty of smart people who have not followed this wisdom, who wasted their potential and achieved nothing with their lives.

If you were to sample both these groups and compare how happy each group as a whole were, which group would you think would be happier?

The answer is, they would both be equally happy. There would be some really happy people and some really miserable people in both groups.

Now there might be a really smart guy who is working really hard in a ‘good’ job, but his boss is brutal and causes this guy to be really stressed. There might be another really smart guy, who gave up everything to become a painter but only enjoys moderate success in this area, many people criticize him but he is happy.

So in comparing the two, who has actually wasted their potential?

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Mind you comparing a happy person from both groups is a different matter (But one took less effort)

2012
09/23
CATEGORY
Future
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Modern Slavery

I don’t currently work but as my studies are coming to a finish that is probably going to change in the near future (I have however worked in fast food which probably explains the negative view I have). But as adults work takes up a huge part of our lives.. what do we get out of dedicating so much of our time to this?

Using my keen observation skills I have noticed this thing:

“Work generally makes people unhappy”

Now you can do work that makes you happy, it’s not impossible, but generally work sucks.

With 24 hours in a day, if I spend 8 sleeping that leaves me 16 hours of conscious time (That’s Math), then if I spend another 8 hours (Out of 16) working, that means that HALF of my [conscious]  time is spent unhappy.

Weekends and 4 weeks holiday leave does not make up for that fact.

Solution: Work doing something you love or don’t work at all.. Although that is probably easier said than done.

2012
05/22
CATEGORY
Business
philosophy
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Happiness and minimalism

There is this TED talk about synthesized happiness, it talks about how you can be equally happy without something as you would be with something and I like it a lot. The simple idea is that materially receiving something (Or losing something) only gives you a temporary boost in happiness. Who knows this best?

“Buddhist monks, they live off nothing and are always happy.”

Minimalism is the idea that you should disregard consumerism, learn how to differentiate between actual needs and stuff you just really want. In fight club his apartment explodes, he is left only with his one suitcase with 6 shirts. This is what its like to become a minimalist (But due to synthesized happiness it becomes a good thing).

I acknowledge that I have too much crap, and the worst thing about consumeristic behaviours is that it is expensive.

“The best things are free”

but there are some areas which are good not to skimp out in. Food and experiences.

Buying good food makes you healthier, makes you feel better etc. Experiences broaden your horizons, give you stories, develop you etc.

So eat better food, spend less money on consumeristic crap, work less because you don’t need as much money, then use the extra time you have and experience the world. This is my strategy to maximize happiness.

2012
05/21
CATEGORY
goals
philosophy
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