What is a successful life?

[newyear]

... my point is... i don't think theres an unsuccesfull life for we don't know whats our actual impact in the world... remmember the butterfly effect?... well i think every life is succesfull, worth living, has its wonders and its problems... life is just life... not judgements attached

Welcome to the forums Patrizia. Success wouldn't be an option if its opposite didn't exist. Isn't success something subjective? That is, obtaining what one wants. This often entails the changing of one's objective of success as one travels on the path of life.

[newyear]

There are over 80 Authentic Identities discovered so far.

What's this, Anton? Is it something like Jung's Psychological Types that Celestia referred to?

[Forest_Dump]

I find that to be an odd idea myself. First, I am amused that some might think that someone else's tests could be used to answer such a personal question. Similarly, I find it odd to believe that "arch-types" for personalities be more than a coarse heuristic device. 6+ billion people can fit into 80 personality types? Doesn't sound much more fine-grained than what is used for horoscopes. I would suspect that people would be more inclined to look into something like this if they already sensed that they were unhappy, etc., and were looking for some kind of simple solution. But, maybe it works for some.

[Celestia]

There are over 80 Authentic Identities discovered so far.

What's this, Anton? Is it something like Jung's Psychological Types that Celestia referred to?

I'm not familiar with Anton's theory beyond bits that he's posted on this board, but the answer to your question "no."

***

Anton,

Why not post a capsulized version of your theory in Psychology so we can have a look at it?

Celestia

[AntonArtaud]

There are over 80 Authentic Identities discovered so far.

What's this, Anton? Is it something like Jung's Psychological Types that Celestia referred to?

Some of us live to promote Peace. They will avoid all struggle even to the point of not defending themselves. Have you ever met them?

Others want Knowledge. Many are here. There are those looking for Theoretical, Technical, Details and Pragmatic Knowledge. The Theoretical people have a difficult time with dealing with the details of software and the technology of computers. The Detailed and Technical people avoid Theory unless applied to details or technology. "Design" people are like this. That does not mean that everyone who has these issues is Theoretical but rather this one of many characteristics.


There have been around 80 Authentic Identities discovered so far. Jung was referring to what is referred to as Synthetic Identities. A Synthetic Identity is the essential social expression.

So, someone would say, "you might disagree with Bob but he is certainly not stupid."

We have mostly "knowledge" people here. Ask yourself what gives your sense of morality foundation? You will land on " they should know, ought to have known, must have known and have a duty to know." This is how a "Knowledge" person approaches most encounters.

What surprises people is that fact that only "knowledge' people think that way. Another might say,
"Don't they realize we are all Connected?" Everyone should observe this Connection, they must recognize our Connection etc...

[newyear]

Thanks for your reply, Anton. Is there a list somewhere where one can consult these 'identities'?

I would like to point out that although one may have a general objective as a group, let's say that of sharing knowledge (that is, gathering and giving), not all would share the same psychological personality.

[Deftil]

Any further discussion of Authentic Identities needs to happen in another thread please, because it's off-topic in this one.

thanks!

[Race]

In my opinion the most fulfilling life a human being can live is one in which you allow yourself to accept your existence, and take advantage of your freedom. Creating your own world of happiness(Different For Every Person).

Does this include people like Hitler or pedophiles, for example?

I'd say the definition of human is one that requires mention here. Successful human life would be a life that best defines excellence as a human being. A being who utilizes reason and builds the best life of which they are capable. Making the most of not only their ability to do, but also their ability to think correctly. To recognize not only their capabilities, but to stand firmly for their species as something unique, by living as more than a animal, or as part of the "herd."

Hitler was quite knowledgable of his capabilities, and how to best use very human fears and preconceived ideas to foster an entire nation into behaving like a herd. Specifically cutting out independent thinking in favor of dogma, his superior race was comprised mostly of limited thinking animals by the time he had them properly trained.

Pedophiles are predators who take pleasure in breaching the rights of other human beings. Mentioning them is an effort to inspire a knee-jerk reaction to the largely general protective response human beings have toward their children. You cannot have excellence in your life...as a human being, at the expense of the rights of other human beings. Happiness then is not an accurate measure of success, as proven by the two examples of Hitler and pedophiles, assuming that is, that they are happy because of the harm they incurred on others.

What then determines success? In my opinion, success comes after a harsh look into your own thinking and behavior. A conscious decision to make the right choices, for the right reasons, and to turn aside from the excuses so prevalent in our society to justify a refusal to do so. Once done, and the decision made to make good choices is firmly in place, then one can move forward with their life, becoming a gainful member of their species, determined to live as they should, and to treat their fellow human beings with respect, and their world with responsibility. To accept accountability for not only their behavior, but for their thinking as well. That is what defines us as different from other mammals after all. We can reason. We can choose.

[AntonArtaud]

It does seem that there are always lots of people who are willing to tell you what a successful life should be.

The approach to an Authentic life as the lecture goes, is solely based on interviewing. No one tells anyone how to live a successful life. Rather, the person learns what their real life motivation is by a series of answers and questions with the founder of the company. It is not like those standard personality profile exams that get you no where.

[Truthsayer]

A successful life is one lived through to the very end without having to put a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger. Suicide is for losers.

[personageguy]

"you only live once but if you do it right once is enough" -Mae West

A successful life is a one done right , "right" is whatever the individual is happy with one where dreams are fulfilled and one leaves behind a lasting beneficial effect on the world

[Cugoano]

"Becoming successful" in Life involves a maturational process facilitated by insight, free will, and action. The "successful" outcome is reflected in a person that is emotionally stable (comfort in one's own skin), open to objectively examining all aspects of life, and ethical in their behavioral choices. This is a lifelong activity and success comes in engaging the process until it is interrupted by death, as opposed to finding an endpoint where you or someone else can stamp your life as successful.

[Satyr]

All this talk and has anyone actually defined what the term "success" means?

A serial killer may think killing 100 people is a succesful endeavor, and a housewife cooking a meal....what universal standard of success is being used and why?


I suspect, as is most often the case, success is determined by how appreciated one is by others.

For instance a man with credentials and status, yet no free-thinking ability, is considered more successful than a free-thinker who needs no such trivial social accolades.

[dragslaye]

Satyr
I didn't ask about what does society define as success, but what you as a thinking individual think is necessary in order to achieve a fulfilling life. What does it make you the happiest? What makes you feel alive? How do you want to feel in your last seconds of life?

[luckierbrunette]

I noticed most dictionaries have even included in the definition of success things like "the attainment of wealth, favor, eminence" which contradicts what I was about to post: that success simply means arriving at your desired goal whether it be for good or evil or arbitrary purposes.

In any event, I think what your getting at is the question (as one pointed out, sorry i'm new to the board and not very good at using it) "what makes a life worth living?" This was a question I was asked constantly by my teachers in my philosophy classes last semester.

i think i can start by saying it wouldn't be anything material. I'm sure that a certain level of happiness is required to make a life worth living. A life without any joy, none whatsoever, is simply not worth living. Material things may bring people happiness, but the end goal is still the same, so we can more simply say a life worth living has some happiness in it.

Many of you say a successful life must have meaning, and to this I say "of course!" There can, after all, be no success unless there is something desired to be attained, a goal of some sort. One can even be successful at sitting still all day in a chair as long as that was their intended goal. But does there have to be meaning in a life worth living? I'm not sure. Maybe a person's meaning for living doesn't come from themselves, making it innate, and therefore necessary for a life worth living? Hmmm.

Does a life worth living need to have meaning? What else do you guys think a life worth living needs to have (to be successful)?

[luckierbrunette]

Satyr
I didn't ask about what does society define as success, but what you as a thinking individual think is necessary in order to achieve a fulfilling life. What does it make you the happiest? What makes you feel alive? How do you want to feel in your last seconds of life?

I know this wasn't exactly directed at me, but I just want to point out that your questions all seem very different. What makes someone the happiest, or makes them feel alive, may not have anything to do with their definition of what makes a fulfilling life (they'd probably overlap, but not necessarily). And I don't think the last seconds of life are much compared to the entire, fulfilling, life at question. I think these are all valid questions but it seems like you are inferring that everyone wants what makes them the happiest, or makes them feel alive, in order to have a fulfilling life. Take drug addicts, for example. Someone may have a heroin problem he needs to shake but has trouble because the drug makes him feel alive, and the happiest he's ever felt, regardless of his knowledge that it is ruining his life.

There is much more to consider is all I'm saying.

[dragslaye]

Point taken, my aim was to facilitate the mental construct, of course one has to take into account that what success is for one person, it won't be necessary be the same for other, or like my gramp's used to say the garbage of a man, it is the treasure of another

[Satyr]

Satyr
I didn't ask about what does society define as success, but what you as a thinking individual think is necessary in order to achieve a fulfilling life.

Given the social nature of the human species it is unavoidable that a degree of social considerations will influence this attempt to find a meaningful life.

For me this existence is considered an opportunity...an opportunity for exploration.

First to explore self, to find the limits of one's possibilities, and then to explore otherness and find the limits of one's awareness.

What does it make you the happiest?

Simple things:

A walk in a forest, watching a river flow by, a smile from someone I care for, good food and drink with people I like, joking and sharing perspectives.

What makes you feel alive?

My every breathe.

How do you want to feel in your last seconds of life?

Like I want to do it all over again, in exactly the same way.

[Satyr]

I know this wasn't exactly directed at me, but I just want to point out that your questions all seem very different. What makes someone the happiest, or makes them feel alive, may not have anything to do with their definition of what makes a fulfilling life (they'd probably overlap, but not necessarily).

Exactly!

Someone may feel most alive when risking death or when killing or when raping, as is often the case.

And I don't think the last seconds of life are much compared to the entire, fulfilling, life at question.

Romantic idealism seeps through here. The idea that a life can be void of regrets or fear or anguish.

Being at peace means coming to terms with what you are, not avoiding what is negative because you wish to only focus on what is positive about what you are.

I think these are all valid questions but it seems like you are inferring that everyone wants what makes them the happiest, or makes them feel alive, in order to have a fulfilling life. Take drug addicts, for example. Someone may have a heroin problem he needs to shake but has trouble because the drug makes him feel alive, and the happiest he's ever felt, regardless of his knowledge that it is ruining his life.

Yes!! In fact gamblers and adrenaline junkies (sex included) report this sense of heightened awareness, as a sensation of 'being alive'.

This, for me is a form of escapism.
chemicals, whether artificial or ones the body produces on its own, flood the brain resulting in increased neurological activity and releasing other chemicals offering euphoria or a sense of peacefulness.

The fundamental truth about life is that it's a tautology with suffering.
Strength is a measurement of an organism's tolerance of this need/suffering.

[luckierbrunette]

And I don't think the last seconds of life are much compared to the entire, fulfilling, life at question.

Romantic idealism seeps through here. The idea that a life can be void of regrets or fear or anguish.

I guess what I meant to point out was that, when discussing what makes a life worth living, why focus on the last seconds? Doesn't this seem strange when discussing an entire life worth living, to only discuss such a small aspect of it? It seems many people (i've found a lot of them to be "bible-thumpers", but lots of others probably fit this category as well) feel a life can be x until the last few seconds at which point certain things must happen to make that life of x worth living (eg, repent, ask forgivness). I am merely wondering others thoughts on what makes a whole life worth living. Can someone live a fulfilling, worthwhile, life if they start out on the wrong foot? Does, say, 50% of thier life have to be one way in order to "set-off" the less desirable half of thier life? Can I live a life worth living still, even if I've been sitting around doing nothing up until now? And, does doing nothing mean one is not living a worthwhile life ("doing nothing" as in, not much in societies eyes, as of course we all breathe and blink, ect.) Is a life worth living a sum of all it's parts (e.g. - a car plus a family plus a strong sense of self = a life worth living) or is there a definition (eg- a life worth living is one that balances x, y, and z.)? Is a life worth living simply in the eye of the beholder? Meaning, if someone believes thier life is worth living, can another truly disagree? Wouldn't that be like telling me i like the color orange when i know i do not? And if we can say that at some point one's life has accumulated to much baggage and is no longer "worth living," what allows us to do so? What are we using to measure these lives against?

I'm starting to think that this question just may not have a universal answer....?

[sody605]

The Webster Dictionary defines 'success' as a favorable or desired outcome. If a person finds it favorable to have wealth then wouldn't his life be a success, just the same as the person who favors poverty? It doesn't seem we can resonably put boundaries or guidlines on what makes a life successful.

[rwsody]

I would define a successful life as the "pursuit of happiness." It is never the prize that we want, whether it be fame or fortune, or spiritual enlightenment. Of course, nobody ever seems to catch on to this fact. Although the rewards are nice, we never appreciate them as much as we do the trials we endured to receive them. Wealthy men pursue wealth, not because they want to spend the money, in fact most of the wealthy folks I've met are very frugal people. No, they pursue wealth because the challenge of it (for lack of a better description) gets them high. And the same goes for athletes, philosophers, do gooders, welders, and anybody else who strives to obtain anything. We don't tell stories about geting the medal pined on our chest, we tell stories about how we ran the race. There for, in the end no matter how much we want it to be something else I say we really live for the road that get's us to where we think we want to go. The prize after all only symbolizes the end of our purpose. Maybe our founding fathers were on to something after all.

[delirium]

No one can possibly define what a "successful life" is due to the fact that every individuals opinion of success and fail is so diverse.
Some people define a "successful life" is having a full time profession that earns high payment, others consider the simple fact of raising a family completes their lives, then there are those who pride their succession on pure happiness rather than a bank account or other various posessions.

I feel a "successful life" is a persons personal opinion and self accomplishments. To be happy is to be successful. To be alive is successful.