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Maybe I have been doing life all wrong. I am constantly in search of true happiness. I mean, I love my family and my husband and boys do make me happy, but I often feel unfulfilled with my own personal experiences. I should focus more on meaning and motivation and less on the term "happiness". Thank you for this article, it really has me thinking and evaluating!

I'm really glad this has been of help to you.

The pursuit of happiness, hmmm. many times I believe I will be happy just when I get over there, I get miserable pursuing I forget to be happy right now. awesome post, it really inspired me thanks

Honestly, I've been having this deep conversation with myself lately. I can't seem to find what I am good at or what gives me happiness. I feel like we all chase what we call financial freedom because it affords us the happiness we are seeking which is the freedom to do whatever it is we want to do without worrying about the bills getting paid. However, I've been told numerous times when you serve others then the money follows because you are doing something "beyond yourself". Very thought provoking article.

Yes, I've also heard the mantra that when you serve others, then the money follows.

I'm not sure how I feel about that.

In a karmic sense, yes, it does work, but I can recall two specific cases where I had "business partners" with whom that did not work. That is, I didn't feel I got paid directly for my efforts.

But then again, I did learn some fundamental skills about business and people in general, and a few years later, I went on to do very well, so in a more indirect sense, I guess I did gain from it.

It's a big subject, though. I would say that the best way to do it is to serve others without any attachment to what's in it for you.

The title itself is thought provoking. Kudos for that.
This is making me refer back to the posts I wrote yesterday. Our ideas here are similar. You have however given me a different lance to examine purpose, meaning and motivation and how they are intertwined.

This line is what gave me that uh huh moment "I'd say it's why the meaningless pursuit of happiness renders any so-called happiness—if happiness is even found—fleeting and empty." This is so profound. The mistake we all make is believing that once we've attained this and bought that and got there that we'll be happy. But what's the purpose of us wanting to get there? What's the meaning of those goals to us?

If we keep chasing happiness, we are absent in the present and run by things that could have added meaning; that could have given us purpose. But we missed them ass we were running, chasing after happiness.

Yes, we have similar lines of thought, even if we have slightly different perspectives.

I'm glad you received an uh-huh moment from what I wrote. If everyone who reads my writing recieves that type of epiphany, I'll be very happy.

The way you outline everything is quite well thought out, well written. I admire writing skills. I will be as good as you are one day.

Thanks! As you do with your poetry, I put a lot of thought into my posts, and try to structure them in a way that moves the argument forward.

Excellent. i'm inspired.