PeeMarc Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 I was chatting with a friend this morning, who was feeling down and sorry for himself. He is short on money, has no savings, and he's just started a new relationship. I suppose he is going through doubts about himself, his life, his past choices and wondering why he doesn't 'feel successful'.... especially now he wants to be 'his best' for his new gf. I asked him what was his personal 'measuring stick' when he tries to define his own 'success' or 'failure' in his life. Like many people, his 'measuring stick' is largely defined by comparing himself with others lives... and also how people 'judge' him. But... how can anyone look at another and judge and say they are 'success' or 'failure' in their life? By what measure? By what (or who's) standard? A cripple who spends their life just trying to achieve a place on a sports team, an adventurer who wants to climb the highest mountain, a businessman who wants to be millionaire....or a teacher or nurse who wants to help and care for others.... all of us can be our individual 'success' stories in our own lives. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niranahm Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Rather measuring your whole life -- setting yourself up to feel a failure -- isn't it better to have multiple long term and short term goals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 i measure my life by the simplest of yardsticks---absence of being dead is both my short and long term goal. as long as i'm hitting my numbers i'm doing alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagner Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 As complicated as life is, the answer itself is very simple. I want to be happy and, if possible, have someone be happy with me. If I'm happy, I'm successful. If not, I need to make changes in my life. I'd ask the other person the same question. How people reach happiness is their business. Some people have the tendency to run around telling people they can't be happy unless this and unless that. Who are they to tell anyone people can't be happy the way they are. Someone once said happiness is a unbroken chain of ordinary miracles and little pieces of perfection. I agree. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. In case you were wondering, yes, I am happy 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJack Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 If momma aint happy, aint nobody happy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAAum Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 my happiness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJack Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 my happiness... how do you measure that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niranahm Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 number of journals posted perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English_Bob Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Yep - happiness too. I find I'm happy almost all the time... That's good enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biachung Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Happiness and freedom, and being able to do what I want . Also having close friends and family around you is a pretty good measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagner Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 being able to do what I want . Very, VERY few people are able to do whatever they want. I'm sure you don't mean it as it sounds but it just struck me as quite a reach for a mere mortal soul like me. Even though I'm content with what I have and can do, I still dream about visiting the ISS like Steven Bezos did for a mere US$ 20 million. Not to mention all other kind of daydreams one has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wagner Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 You should start saving at least USD 1,000,0000 a year You do understand that in order to save US$ 10 (?) million per year it helps if one earns atleast US$ 10 million. Preferrably a bit more unless one is to live on coconuts :shock: Perhaps they have a better technology at that time to make it easy for olderly to be in the space. I'm sure they will. It'll be called Virgin Geriatric. What do you think ? I think you watched Space Cowboys one too many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 i think the decimeter is overlooked as a form of measurement, and is actually very useful. people tend to go straight from centimeters to meters and i really think they're missing out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamHotel Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 I was lost, going nowhere, I found Thailandfriends,Now i'm whole :lol: Next :arrow::!::twisted: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAAum Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 my happiness... how do you measure that? by the number of "sigh"... the measurement would be; no sigh = hapiness 10 sighs = no happiness ok? :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAAum Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 number of journals posted perhaps? yes.... you are right! and number of forum posted too! :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannyboy Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 Very profound... I don't know if it is really constructive to try *measuring* your life... Who and what do you measure your life against? When are you satisfied that you have achieved enough and that it is good enough? You are opening yourself up to a world of disappointment... In the words of the Buddha...desire only leads to suffering.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannyboy Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 with a ruler? or a tape measure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AAAum Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 my happiness... how do you measure that? Indeed, happiness is the standard! you just can FEEL it how u measure the FEELING? questionaire? :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJack Posted August 23, 2008 Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 my happiness... how do you measure that? Indeed, happiness is the standard! you just can FEEL it how u measure the FEELING? questionaire? :wink: some things either are or aren't. you are either pregnant or not. employed or not. happy or not. thats how it is measured Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeMarc Posted August 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 I think, to answer my own question in this thread, that I can 'measure' my own life by 2 things: how happy i am and how useful i am. Both of those could be rated on a scale of 1-10 as Pandorea suggest. So, for me... right now... happiness - 7/10 usefullness - 7/10 and both improving each day. So.. on this measure... I'd say above average success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeMarc Posted August 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 thanks pandorea... yeah i did the test and got same result as you. But, i did feel this particular test doesnt really dig deep enough and it also hasnt got 'control' questions, like most psychologcal evaluation test do (to get same info in different ways and also cuts down on self cheating error) So, while i feel happy about the answer, im not sure its conclusive. Just my opinion. :roll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeMarc Posted August 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2008 Any quiz/test on the internet means to be fun, I believe. yep. good point. am just in a bit of a serious frame of mind right now dear. too many things to do and think about... :idea: ... hmmm.... hang on... so if i did that test in a serious frame of mind and still got good result... i must be very happy indeed in realiity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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