Happy Life or a Meaningful One?

[TheRealPepperPotts]

Are we willing to sacrifice happiness for meaning? Is legacy more important to us than having what we want? Do we believe greater happiness is derived from a meaningful life vs. one in which we have whatever makes us feel immediately happy? What are the differences and similarities?

Thoughts? Ideas? Perspectives? Thanks!

https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/beautiful-minds/the-differences-between-happiness-and-meaning-in-life/

Happiness

Meaning

Updates

1 y

Some definitions are in order, I think!

Happiness: Immediate gratification; i. e. anything that makes you feel happy without much effort or making a sacrifice to achieve the end desired.

Meaning: Delayed gratification and sacrifice for a larger goal, often resulting in a peaceful satisfaction (i. e. true happiness)

Updates

1 y

I think for me, meaning doesn't necessarily have to be a higher purpose (i. e. serving people because it gains us points in the afterlife, etc.) Meaning is the idea that what we are doing makes a difference, generates a positive result, has effects beyond just ourselves, and will last.

I've known people whose sole end in life was pursuing happiness (as in, what made them feel good for the moment), who are desperately unhappy. They fill their life with everything they want, but are miserable.

[TheSpaceGnome]

There is too much overlap between the two under your definitions.

I get immediate gratification from doing things creatively that often take a lot of time and effort, but not sacrifice. I choose to delay and drag out and perfect goals rather than make sacrifices to speed them up (its the "slow and steady wins the race" mentality I suppose).

I live as if I'll never die or age, I'm patient, precise, passionate, calculated, and optimistic, but I also live in the moment and make time to be silly or artistic, and the idea of rushing something, of making sacrifices to meet an end goal, I just don't want to, I would instead find ways to work smarter, not harder.

Another overlap would be with topics of enjoyment:

For example I get immediate gratification being around wild animals, but caring for and preserving them is a lot of never ending work, but it brings joy the entire time.

Video games that you have to practice, they take a while to master, but as soon as I pick up the controller, start my first match, my second, my third, etc and I feel that rush everytime, its immediate, because I enjoy thrills as much as I enjoy mastering a skill.

Or take collecting things I like for decorating a home for example. Every new thing brings me joy, but so does finishing the collection to the perfect amount of completeness. (I think the reason people are unhappy when they have all the stuff they want, is because they didn't actually know exactly what they wanted, things just seemed nice and they went with it.. I do know exactly what I want though).

Making art is another example, I enjoy the ideas forming excitement at the begining, the theraputic movements and building during the drawing/building/sculpting/modeling process, and the finished product at the end.

So I get a mental reward in most things that bring me joy 24/7 from start to finish, and as such, I don't see the difference between short term and long term fulfillment.

You mention longterm goals being true happiness, but true happiness is living in the moment, and getting to have those moments the rest of your life.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@TheSpaceGnome You make good points and this is very well-put. I especially like what you said about people not knowing what they really want and like and just going with whatever. I think that may be part of the distinction, too. People who seek whatever they want, but don't actually know what that is, resulting in dissatisfaction or unhappiness. Versus, people who are clear on what they want and don't mind being patient to achieve their goals/vision. That's a very important difference, and I think you presented it well. Thanks for being involved in the discussion!

[TheSpaceGnome]

Yeah it can definitely make a huge difference to know what you actually want, though be fair, sometimes it can take a while to find out what those things are. Also sometimes people want something thats impossible, so no matter how much stuff they get they are still unhappy.

There are technically some things I want that are impossible, but I've made my peace with only experiencing them in a virtual setting.

Thanks for posting actual thought provoking questions (its kind of rare on this site unfortunately).

[ChiTown33]

Each person has to decide this one for themselves. Everyone whether it be 20 or 50 years. of age reach the point in life where they ask themselves, "is this all that I am"? Because everyone wants to live a happy life. But a life without meaning is no life at all.

[StarWarGirl]

Meaningful life is happiness for me itself. Yes it does come with struggle sometimes but nothing can be equal to the kind of satisfaction we get from such kind. That's true happiness of soul and I choose that.

Happiness isn't defined and everyone can have different criteria for happiness. Some could be happy torturing others if they are sadist. Happiness can be in wrong doing also if the person is evil. So it isn't always the right way. Other thing is happiness exist within us not in outside world. If person doesn't feel happy and satisfied within it will keep chasing happiness endlessly and would reach nowhere and die. So it's useless if someone is seeing things with that perspective or make any decisions on that basis.

[Anonymous]

Meaning 100%. Why? Only you can give that answer. For me, I feel meaning is just a way of saying commitment. So do we choose happiness over shit we know to be ill? To what we know to be ill, and still choose a path which we know is messed up? Again, you are the choice maker.

[strateguy632]

the question and title for article are either wrong or poor English.

when people aren't HAPPY, they search for MEANING to GET happy. both together not "or".

depression is "no meaning"

no meaningful is not happy.

meaningful is happy, not "or."

2 are we willing to sacrifice happiness for meaning?

i don't understand the conflict but people do.

religions people dont eat pig , less happiness for meaning. but they do have other happiness so not sacrifice nor conflict.

3, is legacy more important to us than having what we want? no. people don't care about legacy but chase what they want.

4, Do we believe greater happiness is derived from a meaningful life. yes.

5 or one in which we have whatever makes us feel immediately happy? no conflict no "or"

still people who get what they want, do feel empty so search for meaning usualy joining christian.

philosophy doubts the obvious or accepted stuff... and is a waste of mental effort.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@strateguy632 The title had to be abbreviated, that's why it's phrased that way, or it would have been too long and cumbersome.

People often pursue "happiness" by doing whatever they feel like doing, which often disappoints because the sensation or perception of what will make them "happy" is a dopamine response to the anticipation of being happy.

People aren't necessarily happy when they are parents, but they give that up for the sake of a larger goal.

Is legacy more important than happiness to you personally?

It's just food for thought and discussion, that's all.

[Finchie40]

Both , my happiness is feeling peace and content preferably with a girl that is on the same page with me , that has my back like I have hers. Having someone that loves you the same way you love them is happiness to me , I don’t need materialistic things to really make me happy , those are just things , yes it’s nice to have don’t get me wrong , but it doesn’t bring me happiness like love does. I believe we are put on Earth by God to find true love and happiness , no matter how hard life gets for us. I believe we all go through ups and downs to learn what life really means to us , Love , learning to love yourself and learning to Love someone else that chooses you the same way you choose them. But most of all learning to have faith in God and loving God , choosing God is your savior. To me that is the meaning of life , no one said it was easy , but we all know we are going to die one day , so it’s best for me to live life knowing my life will continue in Heaven and living the best way that I can , by giving what I hope to receive in return , if you can’t give don’t expect to receive. Most people want what they don’t have instead of focusing on what they already have in front of them

[HawkPerception]

I'm something of a mix of a hedonist, nihilist, and agnostic.

I don't believe we necessarily have a "purpose" or "meaning" in our lives. I simply pursue a lifestyle that can let me experience the most happiness. Happiness is a fleeting emotion, so you'll never be happy 100% of the time. But there are certain paths in life that will give you more happiness than others. Helping others makes me happy, so if there's someone in need of help and it's within my power to help them and it's logical, I'll help them. That is enough for me. Empathy is natural and we learn it from the day we're born and learn what love and care are and what positive and negative emotions are.

So to answer your question, I choose a happy life, as I don't necessarily believe in meaning.

[MisterWack]

Meaning!
You can’t just stick your head in a sand dune bury it deep and ignore the problems facing our world / grasping onto a piece of reality that brings you the ultimate fulfillment of joy, love, beauty, despair, anguish, horror, surprise, sadness, happiness, and more. The human experience is just more than “happiness”, it is fulfillment even in the ordinary or unpredictability. Life is spontaneous and so is the human condition. Think about it.

[TonyMetal___86]

All my life, i worked hard to make it meaningful so i guess it's time to feel happy from now on but it's somewhat hard because true happiness is very hard to achieve and sometimes i choose not to achieve it because i don't trust people anymore and i grew a new belief which says: "nothing lasts forever" well maybe for others it does but for me i hardly believe!

[DishLady]

Both — a meaningful life WILL BE a happy, fulfilled one by default.

[IslaTheWitch]

to be happy, you need to feel your needs are fulfilled... that you achieved something, that you do something meaningful...

so a happy life means also meaningful for me... but I can imagine that a meaningful life can be unhappy...

[At3mis24]

My life must have meaning, I must remain in tune with the one I really am, without false pretenses. If for that I have to give up love, I would, too bad, I would never be really happy but at least I will respect myself.

[serious]

Well both the definition of happiness and meaning are subjective. To different people it will mean different things.

For me both are important but I will choose happiness over meaning.

[Siri137]

I don't need my life to mean something. What for?

[Siri137]

The definitions in your update are completely wrong and utterly ridiculous, and they strongly imply that a person can't be happy unless their life has meaning of some kind, which just isn't true.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@Siri137 I'm sorry you feel that way. Thanks for sharing your opinion!

[Siri137]

Well, perhaps you could explain in another update why you believe a person's life must have "meaning" for that person to be happy, or at least not miserable, rather than being "sorry" that I "feel that way".
I responded the way I did, because to me what you have expressed here is an obvious non-sequitur. Happiness and meaning do not logically go together, one doesn't follow the other.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@Siri137 I responded the way I did, because the way you wrote your response seemed angry and upset. My question was intended to provoke discussion, not anger. You used strong adjectives, and whenever someone uses phrases like "completely wrong" without an attempt to understand or clarify, it usually means they are black and white thinkers and are usually out for blood, not understanding. Something I wrote hit a nerve for you, and that is why I felt sorry, and I am.

[Siri137]

Oh okay. Sometimes I just sound that way. Anyway, back to the question. Why must a person's life be meaningful in order for that person to be happy? I just do not understand that.

[NathanDavis]

a happy life is a meaningful one... and viceversa

I would never see it differently

[Caroline91]

I need purpose and meaning to be content. To me, contentment is true happiness.

[SotiCoto]

Neither. I will burn myself out trying to distract myself from the horrors of existence until the void claims me.

[altaboy]

I'm no hero. I aim for happiness for myself and those around me. I think that is a worthy ambition.

[Alex-Snow]

If I live a meaningful life it probably is going to be a happy one

[es20490446e]

I interpret meaningful as a more long lasting kind of happiness.

[msc545]

Happiness is often inseparable from meaning.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@msc545 Explain, sir. Make your case.

[msc545]

Use your imagination here.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@msc545 Help me out.

[msc545]

ok. What is in it for me?

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@msc545 The happiness of knowing you helped a fellow human lacking imagination, of course! :)

[Iron_Man]

Both, but you have to be happy if you’re never happy then you’re miserable

[Anonymous]

Neither is possible for me, so I'll just keep on drinking until my liver shuts down

[TheRealPepperPotts]

Ouch. I'm sorry you're at that place. That's hard.

[whistlingwh0res]

Sometimes meaningful is luxury. I can only be happy with my puny little life which has no meaning at all.

[Princesspd]

Only money and sex give me a happy life.

[exitseven]

I pick happy.

[Arik_jade]

I opt for both Happy Life and Meaningful Life...

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@Arik_jade Nope. You gotta choose and explain your choice, or it's a cop-out!

[Arik_jade]

Umm.. then I will choose Happy Life...

[KrakenAttackin]

How can you have happiness without meaning?

[avery58]

Happiness 100%

[avery58]

Lol... I answered this from my discover page without clicking on it. Guess I'll have to change my answer. I like working hard for my goals, it just makes it better when I achieve them.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Definitely happy.

[MatureMan40]

Both