Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDragon
One thing that people seem to be doing is minimizing what the "struggle, often difficult on the edge experience by making impact for generations to come" side of it. If we look at it honestly, it's one thing to be happy and do something we love, that still makes a contribution, but another to truly have an impact on the world. If we look at the greatest entrepreneurs, inventors, artists, and some philanthropists, many of them do sacrifice simple comforts and happiness, for their pursuit. Many of them later on in life find a contentment in this, but they rare have a "happy but shallow" existence.
When profiling many entrepreneurs and world leaders, one can see a pattern in which the biggest personal risk these personality types take are not monetary, but rather, time and typical happiness. And realistically speaking, these personality types who then actually become successful in their endeavours that often change the world are rare. We live in a comfortable society that for the most part promotes happiness over achievement, and are taught from a young age in Western society how to be happy with ourselves. That seems to be an apparent pattern.
Fact is, the majority find comfort in certainty, safety and hedonistic pleasure, which often corresponds with "happy but shallow." Yes it is possible to blend the two, but for the most part, the few rare greats we've seen throughout history are prone to sacrificing their time and happiness in order to take risks. That's their drive, no happiness.
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what comes to my mind is domain of politics or human rights. So many people say how these make them "depressed".
Yet, it's something I chose to study. And worry not... strategic studies, international law and all the wrongs in the world do not make me "happy". I found writting my thesis hard, the readings were triggering at times, it difficult to think of some things. I came up with something daring and ambitious, I think.
I still hope to achieve something in the field. And as much as it's fullfilling, it will not be rainbows and flowers.
this is what I am getting to. Fullfilling pursuits can keep one alive... but not happy in classic sense (how we usually understand it).
My idol is one war correspodent/humanitarian worker. She isn't smiling all the time, and she is damn cynical. Or Vaclav Havel. Sure he had moments of happiness in his life, but he went to prison for his beliefs. That is commitment i am talking about.
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