Ask HN: What does a happy life look like to you?

1 liminal-dev 3 9/3/2025, 11:42:30 PM
I’ve been a bit existential lately wondering what life’s about. Worked tech/startup jobs but only found them fulfilling when I had stake.

Last 2.5 years I’ve been building something of my own to become financially independent and focus on art. Still building that life.

So what gets you out of bed each morning?

Comments (3)

cebert · 1h ago
I know it’s not for everyone, but having two children brings a great deal of joy in my life. My kids help give my life balance, perspective, and meaning. It’s frightening how quickly they grow up too. While I also get a great deal of satisfaction at work, I know that I can be easily replaced or let go. Spending time with my kids and watching them grow is the most rewarding aspect of my life.
dlachausse · 17m ago
I can’t think of anything that has given my life more meaning than being a husband and a father. It gives me so much happiness and purpose.
imadEngineering · 51m ago
>So what gets you out of bed each morning?

Fajr (morning) prayer

To answer the title question we need to first agree that, it must be objective, and to be objective you need to define the terms used here, as the question will first be: What is happiness?

A Materialstic view may go "its chimical signals in our brain"

Then a neurologist refute that by saying "It is not yet confirmed to be the case"

A random humanitarian may go "Its when you sit in the worms of your family"

In which a guy with ABC in philosophy mentions a single instence where its not the case and say: "Your universal is broken"

A Nihilist may go: "There is no such thing as happiness or happy life."

Then a religious person (like me) respond saying: "Worshiping and obeying God is the only happiness path in this world"

And so on, each with his views, with definition in mind you could seek to validate the objectiveness of them.

Picking the wrong "happiness model" will have effects on your journey seeking happiness, so pick wisely.

Good luck.