Success Happy

How important is your personal happiness?

It seems that each person's individual happiness is of primary importance to the individual, especially these days when everyone is "out for number one". I'm curious how people answer this question: how important is your happiness to you, what are you willing to sacrifice for your happiness and why? Is your happiness your main priority? Why or why not? If something else is more important than your happiness what is it and why?

Public Comments

1. I just want food and shelter till the end comes.
2. I often sacrifice my own happiness for the happiness of others I love. (Of course one could argue that when they are happy, I am happy!) I think that the goal of life is growth, not happiness. If you are happy, you are static. You do not need anything more or anything different. I think people need to stretch in physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual ways.
3. Hi.... I won't say that I am a special guy... but I fnd happiness when I see others happy..... I want to help others, see others smile... I want all the living being to be happy......... all my friends and family and everyone who I don't know...... This is what makes me happy.................. YES my happiness is my main priority cause I can't stand if I see others unhappy...... I am selfish about being happy but what makes me happy is not SELFISH at all........
4. There is a difference between personal happiness and selfish gain. I do strongly believe that personal happiness brings forth all that is mine by divine right, so I really don't have to work hard at getting what it is I want...it is provided for me. I also make sure that my actions do not impede on anyone else's life.
5. Jesus said, "love your neighbour as yourself" so then the same attention and strength one seeks for their own happiness, they should also be attempting to make happen for those around them. Without that heart and attitude, there's a sortof selfish smouldering misery and unfulfillment.
6. I think that people define happiness differently. Being the 'top dog' is definitely what some people need to be 'happy', while others see happiness as having a devoted spouse, children....being comfortable, and others still define happiness as being as 'free' as possible, like a 'rolling stone'. My happiness is freedom. Freedom from routine, Free time, Free to be me...gardening.....etc. I sacrifice job opportunities and even potential mates because they will not bring me the happiness that I have already attained to myself. But many people need a high paying job and a socially acceptable mate to be happy, to fit in with the cultural norms. Happiness, I think is much more complicated than 'What makes you happy' ~ Happiness is also more dynamic than static and for some, very elusive. Very interesting question, I plan on coming back and reading all of the answers you get!
7. There is joy in giving happiness to others.Peace of mind is more important than happiness.
8. If happiness is defined as merely emotional satisfaction, then this is relative and expendable. If happiness is defined as the fulfillment of the purpose of one's nature in accord with virtue, then its importance to human flourishing is priceless.
9. my happiness is trying to helps others.may ALLAH gives me more opportunity .smily face of needy person is my happiness.
10. It's not so important anymore since I've had my son. His happiness comes first, and if I have the time I'll worry about myself.
11. My personal happiness is of paramount importance to me. However, being the part of the family and society, my happiness is highly dependent on what happens around me... if people around me are extremely unhappy, it is not possible for me to island myself totally from such widespread unrest. It follows therefore that it would be necessary to sacrifice a degree of individual inclinations and freedom in order for the collective well-being without which my personal happiness can not accrue. Duties and responsibilities opposite the family, society and nation have to be duly carried out in order to earn the right to be personally happy.... that is what life is all about.
12. I wish I would sacrifice more to be happy. I have a tendency to allow everyone else's happiness to be more important if it conflicts with what I want or need...so I guess it isn't as much of a priority as it should be. It can be kind of a Catch 22 in the sense that while I often sacrifice what makes me happy for the happiness of my family, in the end its gratifying to make them happy....don't know if I answered the question or just rambled :)
13. Happiness per se, no. The pleasure and satisfaction to be had from having something useful to do, to feel as though I'm truly accomplishing something, yes oh yes! I do a fair amount of volunteer work (via the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary) and have been a search and rescue specialist for a decade and a half. None of this pays a thin dime! They suck up a great deal of personal treasure, time, and energy, the 'bennies' such as they are are few (hell, I've gotta pay to be part of all of them); that said, there's enormous satisfaction in knowing that 'these things I do that others may live'.
14. straight up and honest with you what makes me happy is being accepted for who i am and its hard to sacrifice the hate i may receive from it.. for deep in im a girl, but to the world i appear a guy. im into gothic punk fashion, but so many others disapprove. i love those who love me, and i want others to love me, so... it pulls my interest out to focusing on others... so much that im somewhat of an entertainer seeking attention, a loving attention, my happiness. i will always do for others before me, for i care for others, but that may come back to me later. i supose i contradict myself.
15. Its important to me to the extend of getting peace of mind.It surely isn't my main priority because we are a joint family and sacrificing in life at each step for my family gives the family as well as our realtions a bond of love and brotherhood.
16. How important is your happiness to you, what are you willing to sacrifice for your happiness and why? I'm willing to sacrifice effort, time and money for my happiness, but refuse to sacrifice my ethics, principles or someone else's happiness for my own. Is your happiness your main priority? No Why or why not? Because there are so many things that are more important.than my happiness. My survival is more important than my happiness. The happiness of others is usually more imporant to me than my own, like others have posted. I think that's because I hope for acceptance from others. If something else is more important than your happiness what is it and why? I don't care about being 'happy' - I want to be blessed. Happiness is temporary but being blessed can lead to eternity.
17. very important. But my child's happiness is more important.
18. Personal happiness cannot be achieved, unless it is shared with others. It all depends what your goal in life are. If they are to be successfull in business, then you have to sacrifice time away from family. If it is to be successful in parenting, then you have to deny yourself pleasures. If your happiness depends on what people think about you, then you sacrifice your individuality, in ever achieving contentment. I do not believe people live in a state of happiness, it is being content with your goals that bring you happiness. Contentment with oneself, peace of mind, being a good citizen, helping others, seeing the fruits of your labor, achieve joy, and happiness for "number one". Without that then you are just existing, and not living.