21 Oct 2013

Deep Thoughts, by Bob Murphy

Deep Thoughts 16 Comments

A lot of people are angry and depressed because they haven’t made it, even though they’re more talented than many of the people who have made it.

A lot of people are angry and depressed because they’ve made it, and yet it didn’t make them happy.

16 Responses to “Deep Thoughts, by Bob Murphy”

  1. GabbyD says:

    So they are right to be angry, coz no matter what happens, they are f_ed.

  2. Raja says:

    So striving for happiness is the key here, trying to make it or not it isn’t. It could be the Fed as well.
    🙂

    • Rick Hull says:

      I dunno, it seems to me that happiness is one of those metacircular thingies. Chasing it is probably the worst possible strategy.

  3. Major_Freedom says:

    The ol’ “grass is greener…”

  4. Edward Graham says:

    I just saw a sermon by Tim Keller where he discusses this exact idea. The sermon was based on Phillipians 4where Paul claims he that he has learned the secret to complete contentment in the face of plenty and want. This might be the best talk I’ve ever heard by anyone on any topic…yea its that good.
    http://youtu.be/2l2wfjFnukI

    • Matt G says:

      I’m no Christian, but that was great.

      There seems to be consensus among spiritual teachers that you can’t really enjoy “making it” unless you are already happy. And that it is possible to be happy now, without making it at all.

  5. Gamble says:

    Then there are those who don’t want to make it anywhere. They just want to survive. They cut a giant pile of firewood when they are young and able but then the government comes along and taxes the land beneath the wood and the exhaust coming from the fire. These people realize their wood pile is not enough so they try to cut more but cannot because they are older and most of the wood is now off limits. They try to sale there remaining wood only to realize the value of the dollar is not what it use to be and their wood has little to no value in fiat money economy.

    Then there are those who are more talented yet did not get ahead because they chose the free market path only to have those hiding behind the guns of government out spend them. They realize they must align themselves with a government privileged endeavor to get ahead yet this go’s against every thing they are.

    I can play this game all day.

  6. Tel says:

    I admit that I’m just a touch angry and depressed about the half billion that went to the failed Obamacare website, even though it doesn’t fall into either if the categories listed in the blog post. I’m sure someone did well out of it, but I’ll probably never meet the lady who did, and if I do, she probably won’t talk about it. The details of a lot of IT disasters get swept under the mat and out of sight.

  7. skylien says:

    And there are lots of people striving for happiness, also acquiring as much material stuff as possible, yet envy people (they have seen on the TV) who have nothing and are happy. They tell me it is because they have so much that they are unhappy and those others so little that makes them happy. I always wonder, well if that is true, what keeps them from being happy, just throw all your useless stuff away and enjoy leisure…

    Next thing they do is ordering another glass of quality whine and possibly a desert, which they obviously enjoy, only to repeat “You really need nothing…”

    Drives me crazy…

    • skylien says:

      omg…

      Is there a word for it if you tend to confuse words in writing that have different meaning, but are nearly pronounced the same way..?

      *wine* and *dessert* of course…

      I really would understand it if anyone would permanently make fun of me because of this

      😉

      • skylien says:

        Well, it seems this problem belongs to Dyslexia and might be caused because English has a relatively higher complexity in the orthographic structure than German…

      • Tel says:

        A good, solid grudge should be savoured, like a fine whine.

  8. Gamble says:

    For some reason this thread reminds of the Veterans Day sermon 2 years ago at my community church. It was pro war, pro government and the pastor informed us that no modern Americans and nobody in our church has ever been persecuted. I guess pastor was saying Jesus is a liar?( Matt 5:12)

    If you want to cope with your anger, first read Psalms 41. This reminds you to never want/expect to much from this world.

    Then read Matt 19:21. This instructs you how to achieve perfection and hopefully encourages you to abandon this unrealistic goal immediately. Perfection can drive you crazy.

    Then read, study and memorize the 8 beatitudes. Matt 5: 3-12 These were given by Jesus to the masses at the Sermon on The Mount. Arguably 1 of the most important parts of the Bible. Notice # 8. Obviously many Christians are persecuted and wronged otherwise Jesus taught all of this in vain. I think Jesus is acknowledging there will never be a market nor a society free of violence, force, fraud, theft and corruption.

    Blessed are…
    …the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:3)
    …those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)
    …the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)
    …those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)
    …the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
    …the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
    …the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)
    …those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10)

  9. Innocent says:

    So here is the way people look at things…

    People below me – disdain and pity
    Those on par – my peers and friends
    Those above me – fear and envy and awe

    It is the happy man that that can only see peers and friends. That you understand you are both a teacher and a student. That you can grow.

    Teach others what you can, accept instruction from all, and most of all, love.

    • Gamble says:

      Innocent,

      I hear what you are saying however the same problem that inflicts the economy inflicts your scenario. It is nearly impossible to calculate your own personal standing accurately therefore it is impossible to know when to look down, across or up. It is not all uncommon to have neighbors and peers that are only neighbors because of debt, suppressed interest rates or generous government employment. I have neighbors that could not find heir way out of a wet paper sack but government, past unjustified bankruptcies, freebies, bogus disabilities and other tricks keep them gainfully employed and solvent.

      Excessive government reaches into the very social structure.

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