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Mental Health, Emotional Health & Success

by Ruilk Gold
9 replies
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I've been reading some books on social intelligence, emotional health and mental health recently and pretty much all of them state that a lot of driven, successful people who are results orientated or workaholics are bent on constantly striving for 'more more more'. They are in some ways not emotionally healthy. Everyone in some sense can be both emotionally healthy and unhealthy.

A lot of these psychiatrists are stating that upbringing may contribute to their need to be recognised for great achievements. It also ties into narcism and that in a lot of middle-class families praise their children who do well and reward them with love and affection which is giving this mentality that they have to be successful to gain the love and attention of their loved ones ... as the child grows into an adult they turn this into a need for success.

Many celebrities have mental health problems, they used their talents growing up to express themselves as they couldn't clearly perhaps express themselves elsewise. For example, in song lyrics or in paintings they let out their angst. It's like an outlet. But when they do gain the fame it's a sense of fake closeness they have from fans and almost an addiction. A lot get the top a lot of their game and they end up clinically depressed because they find it wasn't the right love they truly craved and some have commit suicide or turn to drugs to escape and numb themselves.

Obviously there are mentally emotionally healthy celebrities and driven people out there ... but not everyone is 100% sane right?

What are your views on this? Do you have a mental health problem? Or if not clinical proven do you think you do? Do you think you have to have some insatiable need for admiration in order to push yourself to succeed like you do so? OR do you want money for the 'freedom' but if you have money to live a humble life? Why do you want even more?
  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    They are in some ways not emotionally healthy.

    100% of the time Ruilk, the folks you mention are not emotionally healthy LOL.

    We in the West have a weird obsession with folks who PUSH themselves because they are afraid or in pain, then, these folks achieve great worldly success. But also have mental problems, health problems, etc. This is not wise.

    The far easier (like in, no mental health or physical health problems) but sometimes highly uncomfortable way to do it; be PULLED by your passion, rest amply, have fun, detach from outcomes and make more, and more, and more friends.

    Richard Branson is the billionaire gold standard of being PULLED versus pushing himself. He is happy, surrounded by smart folks he befriends and hires, he is healthy, being physically fit and mentally clear, and the dude is just love and harmony and poise.

    He is the RB this RB models himself after hehehehe....

    Not about being driven at all; it's being pulled, not about pushing yourself. 2 totally different energies. One leads to problems and worldly success. The other to love, health, fun, harmony, detachment and much greater worldly success.

    Ryan
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  • Profile picture of the author sean1776
    It feels better to watch a happy ending movie, because the main character will lead the audience into a better state(of mind).

    That's our human nature: we can't endure being bored, we like changes, changes to a better state.

    A portion of people want more more more, another portion want grow grow grow,
    still another portion may want buy, buy, buy, etc.

    Desiring in moderation is healthy, otherwise is not.

    My views on this, thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quick revolution
    What if their talent is what had a hand in their mental challenges. If they had chosen another occupation, things might have turned out differently don't you think?
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by Ruilk Gold View Post

    I've been reading some books on social intelligence, emotional health and mental health recently and pretty much all of them state that a lot of driven, successful people who are results orientated or workaholics are bent on constantly striving for 'more more more'. They are in some ways not emotionally healthy. Everyone in some sense can be both emotionally healthy and unhealthy.
    Some highly successful people are driven by an empty hole they are trying to fill. But I think most are simply intelligent ambitious people that are fulfilling more of their potential than others.

    The idea that "Driven successful people are not happy" or they "have mental problems" is a meme that is latched onto by those that are less successful. It makes them feel better to think that if they actually applied themselves more...they would be unhappy.

    And actors are actors because they crave attention.

    If someone tells me that they think that rich people are messed up mentally, I ask them if poor people have more on the ball.

    And most wealthy people ..driven people...really love the work that they do. It isn't a mental illness, it's a pleasure for them to get up in the morning and do something meaningful and constructive with their day. That sounds pretty healthy to me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      And most wealthy people ..driven people...really love the work that they do. It isn't a mental illness, it's a pleasure for them to get up in the morning and do something meaningful and constructive with their day. That sounds pretty healthy to me.
      Quite so. Also, the terms "driven", "wealthy" and "successful" aren't synonymous. Scientists, inventors, and artists for example, can be driven by a sense of purpose without ever aspiring to be rich or widely acclaimed.
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        Quite so. Also, the terms "driven", "wealthy" and "successful" aren't synonymous. Scientists, inventors, and artists for example, can be driven by a sense of purpose without ever aspiring to be rich or widely acclaimed.
        Just as teachers, college professors, some people in law enforcement, and people who are lost in a Just Cause...can be highly successful, but not wealthy.

        And even people who are in business to make a profit, aren't just driven by wealth. They may be also driven by social status, creating something important and useful, making a parent proud.

        Where does ambition come from? Some ambitious people are hard wired to achieve from birth. Most I think are raised where achievement is rewarded...or expected. Some are culturally motivated.

        A few start and run successful businesses because it's fun to them.
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        • Profile picture of the author Odahh
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          Just as teachers, college professors, some people in law enforcement, and people who are lost in a Just Cause...can be highly successful, but not wealthy.

          And even people who are in business to make a profit, aren't just driven by wealth. They may be also driven by social status, creating something important and useful, making a parent proud.

          Where does ambition come from? Some ambitious people are hard wired to achieve from birth. Most I think are raised where achievement is rewarded...or expected. Some are culturally motivated.

          A few start and run successful businesses because it's fun to them.
          well i am under the belief that a lot of the negative programming or messaging about the rich.. come from a section of wealthy and privileged individuals .. who just despise those who have more then them or those who think they can achieve what they have.. so you get the messaging in the media and hollywood movies .. from very rich actors .. who make their money portraying rich people badly and portray working jobs .. in ways no real people work ..

          i feel the western path of success.. the more more more path.. that most people are on or try to be on..and a lot of people who fail just make excuses that they are not bad people like rich people.. not greedy ,workaholics out to steal from the poor ..or exploit poor worker to make their fortunes ..

          you have far more mentally unhealthy in the very poor /homeless population in the USA at least with a chunk the constantly steal from other poor and homeless and make things harder for those trying to do things right ..who will support more powerful people who are willing to steal from the rich or those with more .. with the promise of giving to them ..

          envy is envy.. and there are a chunk of people who are happy keeping poor people poor ...and feeding all kinds of negative programing to prevent people from building wealth..

          as the average rich person or millionaire has built their fortune over 30 years or more .. saving 15-30 percent of their income .. working 45-58 hours a week in high paid skills set ..or eventually using those skills to build their own business .. while the spouse was either a teacher or stayed at home and kept a sharp eye on the budget ..
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        • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          And even people who are in business to make a profit, aren't just driven by wealth. They may be also driven by social status, creating something important and useful, making a parent proud.

          Where does ambition come from? Some ambitious people are hard wired to achieve from birth. Most I think are raised where achievement is rewarded...or expected. Some are culturally motivated.
          Which goes back to the points made in the OP. There must be a whole host of cultural and environmental factors involved in motivation and ambition - complex and unique to each individual.

          I understand that psychiatrists have livings to make and books to sell, but the term "emotionally healthy" seems to me a largely invented condition. Any character trait taken to extremes has the potential to adversely affect a person's health, either directly or indirectly - via one's personal relationships. That applies to slobs as well as the ultra ambitious. Delve into anyone's background and experience and you can find potential causes or triggers for their actions and beliefs.

          And if it's the case, as suggested in the OP, that "Everyone in some sense can be both emotionally healthy and unhealthy" and "Not everyone is 100% sane", then it must be normal - a part of the human condition.

          Who's to say that any one trigger is more damaging or less worthy than another?
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          • Profile picture of the author Odahh
            Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

            Which goes back to the points made in the OP. There must be a whole host of cultural and environmental factors involved in motivation and ambition - complex and unique to each individual.

            I understand that psychiatrists have livings to make and books to sell, but the term "emotionally healthy" seems to me a largely invented condition. Any character trait taken to extremes has the potential to adversely affect a person's health, either directly or indirectly - via one's personal relationships. That applies to slobs as well as the ultra ambitious. Delve into anyone's background and experience and you can find potential causes or triggers for their actions and beliefs.

            And if it's the case, as suggested in the OP, that "Everyone in some sense can be both emotionally healthy and unhealthy" and "Not everyone is 100% sane", then it must be normal - a part of the human condition.

            Who's to say that any one trigger is more damaging or less worthy than another?
            now if emotionally healthy means properly medicated or lacking of symptoms of emotional disorder ..blah blah blh.. i am just suspicious of any field of medicin o treatments definition of healthy ..

            we humans work better in an environment or social structure where are dominant abilities and emotional traits are balanced by those around us ..weather we personally create the environment or get plugged into it ..

            this is why men and women tend to have different sets of dominant emotions .. and a wide variety of emotion trait dispersal in the sexes ....and then skill aptitude .. veries from person to person ..

            so if there are a small percent of men who work 60 + hours a week for 30 years .. and surround themselves with people who balance them ..that is a healthy emotional state .

            humans come in different but similar heights weights .. looks skin colors hair colors and other multiple appearance difference .

            why do we have a mental health system the seems to judge large numbers of people by a made up standard ..and call them mentally ill or unhealthy .. if the deviate from the standard ..

            on a personal note .. i have high function autism, rapid cycling bipolar (disorder) and a list of sub conditions ..in finding ways to function properly and get in the proper environment for me to perform at a high level ..without medication or drugs of any kind .. i have put the path together to build my wealth and stay happy ..should i stay in a life of deprivation and be properly medicated and stable.. but fat..with no energy to get out of bed .. or do i do what i am doing and chop my way through the forest of life and us what are supposed illnesses and disorder..to life the best life i can
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