[devmunchies]

Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) said (at around 70 as well), "The notion that one's goal in life is to be happy, that your own happiness is the goal... I just don't buy it"

I think as we focus on mastery or craftsmanship, happiness finds us.

Not everyone, but I'd say modern society is hedonistic—we seek happiness instead of achievement and get neither.

[cmdshiftf4]

>we seek happiness instead of achievement and get neither.

Probably because we've been conditioned (through billions of dollars, spent yearly, on marketing) to believe that happiness comes with the acquisition of certain items, status or experiences.

We've conflated happiness with dopamine rushes and short-lived pleasure, and believe the feeling can be elongated by merely emulating the actions which either provided both or could provide more of both.

Many of us have also altered our lives to support the above mentality - living in densely packed cities with air and sound pollution, or poor commutes, working around the clock, or in chaotic and stressful companies, doing ultimately purposeless or even outright destructive work, with the hopes of gaining more money or more status to fund the above, etc.

Coupled with the increasing social isolation and division, the never-ending outrage we're told to feel over today's new issue, which we as a civilization are going through, it's not hard to see why people are finding it hard to say they're happy.

[sabas123]

But fuck this world if mastering your craft turns out to be just as stressful and painful as seeking happiness from material wealth.

[saiya-jin]

there is no long term happiness from material wealth, unless you heavily redefine what happiness means

[Infinitesimus]

> Not everyone, but I'd say modern society is hedonistic—we seek happiness instead of achievement and get neither.

I agree on the hedonism but I'm not sure the happiness-achievement struggle is as simple. There are plenty of people who have achieved stuff my some metric (fame, wealth, etc.) and are still deeply unhappy

[mortenjorck]

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (from which I believe that quote originates) actually affected me quite a bit. Rather than some kind of hedonistic bucket list, the film's depiction of Miyazaki gave me a very different model for later life: To spend a lifetime mastering one's craft, and to take joy in the everyday process of exercising and improving it.

Most of us will not become acclaimed directors like Miyazaki, or renowned sushi chefs like Jiro Ono (Jiro Dreams of Sushi is another documentary in this vein), but in my view, any skilled craftsperson, from a tatami weaver to a software developer, can follow this path. You don't have to be famous, or even best in class, to enjoy a life of mastering the craft that inspires you.

[countessRostov]

All very well and inspiring, but how am I meant to make enough money to pay rent and buy groceries when trying to master my craft? This works great if your dream lines up with capitalism, but for a lot of us software development is just a means to pay the bills, not a reason to live.

[sifar]

I believe we have missed it by concentrating so much on Happiness instead of Joy. Joy is a much more wholesome emotion, long lasting and once you are in a state of joy, happiness follows.

[GoblinSlayer]

Yes? Self-actualization is the tip of Maslow pyramid.