[explosives]

I have had this thought for a long time and is it better to find something you are really good at and then attempt to keep focusing on it even though it is dangerous? This is with anything whether it be sports where there is risk of serios health injury from attempting to improve too much or brain power where there are obvious mental illness side effects from working your brain too hard. The other choice is living a balanced life which is the healthiest and keeping these elements in line, exercise and workout your brain equally knowing you will never be the best in anything but the happiest. Any thoughts on this? I think that a balanced life is the best option and could actually improve your career more than just solely focusing on your career.

[TheOne]

Definetely happiness over "being the best". Whether that happiness has anything to do with balanced life is another matter.

[Sonny]

I'm more of a balanced life person but at times I wonder what my life would be like if I went all out and pursued something I was REALLY interested in.

[Ultrashogun]

I need to focus myself, I cant be happy unless Im sure that Im better than almost anybody else in the thing I specialize in.

[Q mystic]

Originally Posted by Ultrashogun

I need to focus myself, I cant be happy unless Im sure that Im better than almost anybody else in the thing I specialize in.

I am one of those guys that seem to be better than everyone else at everything and I am not happy.

[Braziluvr]

I bought all that "success is the only thing that matters" bs when I was younger, to my detriment - I ended up with hypertension. I'm basically in middle age now, and see life very differently. I'm more about the simple things in life now, and am far happier.

[Q mystic]

Originally Posted by Braziluvr

I bought all that "success is the only thing that matters" bs when I was younger, to my detriment - I ended up with hypertension. I'm basically in middle age now, and see life very differently. I'm more about the simple things in life now, and am far happier.

Does happier mean less stress?

[explosives]

Originally Posted by Q mystic

I am one of those guys that seem to be better than everyone else at everything and I am not happy.

then you must be delusional because if your the best at sports and academics your either lying or some kind of genetic mutant

[Sonny]

I sometimes wish I was naturally a lot more competetive. I remember as a kid not wanting to be like all those other kids who would spaz if their team lost a touch football game during recess. My parents instilled a good work ethic in me and taught me that hard work will keep you going in life and that you just have to put in the effort but you shouldn't compromise yourself or others to be the best.

All in all, I'm pleased with the person I am and I feel that the people who influenced me growing up did a good job. But I look at the young kids in my family and the parents instilling that almost maniacal competetiveness, laughing and thinking it's cute when they're punching and kicking each other over who scored the last goal in the family road hockey game. it worries me to the point where I consciously tell myself that I WILL NOT raise my children that way.

[Q mystic]

Originally Posted by explosives

then you must be delusional because if your the best at sports and academics your either lying or some kind of genetic mutant

Look man, you live in YOUR world.....I'll live in MINE.

Regarding your question, it is just one of those crossroads and you have to decide for yourself. I mean, advice is nice to speculate but with the huge lack of info on you - compared to yourself then only deep introspection will give a good answer. And what you decide cannot be wrong regardless of the outcome to your choice. Imo.