Correct - without the approbation of others, you have the "if a tree falls in the forest" question.

Cultivating happiness without any verification of that happiness is the same as being suicidally sad or convinced you are the ruler of Mars without verification. What defines reality? Those around you define the language you speak, what foods you prefer, your range of philosophy, all your transactions, etc. In solitary confinement you'd go nuts and die. You need them, whether you accept that or not. I guess you could live as a hermit (or hermitessa), and then you could define your own terms completely.

Wow, you need the approval of others to be happy? To be complete? To verify your self worth? I won't criticize you, to each his own, but I will say you will never get off the treadmill, you will never be content. You will never be yourself.

.

Virtue . . .

I'll re-examine what I think in light of your comments, but I don't really see any way to go against 3m years of physiology. If it means I'm on a treadmill how would I escape it? If I just declare that I don't need people and don't care what they think am I being honest or just hoping a declaration is enough?

I'd say betting against Mother Nature is a losing bet. Humans are social (well, tribal) animals. It takes a VERY strong person to go against that. Other people's opinions of you can and do affect your internal chemistry.

Do you think those POWs in Korea wanted to care what the guards thought of them? Yet many of them broke. I don't know if you can just declare that you don't care and make it so.

Top Notch, A+++
 

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Sleeping well at night.

I think if I could have bought a wife, made her go out to work to get the money to pay the rent and food, so I could sit in all day posting bollocks on forums that no one cares about I would call that success.

Love, health, secured future (read: number≥$1mln), time to live and peace of mind. That's the success if you ask me...

Having a healthy family, helping friends and of course achieving goals, that's my view of it

:1orglaugh maybe I am

Winner! :1orglaugh:thumbsup

Doing something you enjoy (as a hobbie) as your job, being able to provide everything for your family, not worrying about bills = success to me.

What the fuck?

Success is hating shit and being pissed off all the time?

Having a family and a career and just being happy with your life:)

being able to support my lifestyle without worrying about money.

No cops in sight.

Thought I should add that.

My good friend says that to him, success is having power and money - and then not using it.