[emodendroket]

> People who chase happiness as their primary meaning to exist usually are not very interesting and highly materialistic.

Personally I would have chosen this unflattering label for people who were pushed from birth into a particular career path and just followed along.

[corbulo]

Those kinds of people often have a highly warped idea of what happiness is. Usually imagined, consciously or subconsciously, as a magical oasis where their parents are satisfied with them and they 'make it'. Those who do 'make it' realize thats not how it works and burn out.

[vineyardmike]

Personally, I would think that some people are destined to be happy, just as some are destined to be a "genius".

I understand the sentiment that chasing happiness without "purpose" or consideration to the world around you might make someone vain and hedonistic but I don't think that applies to being career driven. I do think a strong career drive (esp. external) will not make you happy, and may even be a source of discontentment.

[lapcat]

> Personally, I would think that some people are destined to be happy, just as some are destined to be a "genius".

I think the submitted article tried to make clear that just being a gifted child isn't sufficient to become a "genius", and favorable circumstances play a big role in turning giftedness into exceptional accomplishment.

Thus, wouldn't the same apply to happiness? Even if there were natural predilections toward happiness, circumstances can play a big role too in bringing the predilections to fruition.

Perhaps one needs to be "tutored" about how to become happy.

[emodendroket]

That's probably true. It's a well-loved aphorism that money can't buy happiness... true enough, but not having money is certainly a source of unhappiness in small and large ways.