Jordan Peterson - Do You Need A Family To Be Happy?

Dr Jordan B. Peterson on whether you need a family to be happy? Should you be childless? Does Jordan think that having kids makes people happier? Does Jordan Peterson think you should choose your career over having children?

#jordanpeterson #family #career

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[doctornov]

Whatever you decide with family, try to make sure:

- you've thought about it *a lot*
- accepted the burden voluntarily
- go about it in the proper manner

[Lunch_at_Marcos]

My aunt is single and childless, she says she’s never felt that maternal need and is glad she didn’t have any but she has done a lot for her family and myself and sister, she’s found her “purposes” elsewhere in her life which should be looked at positively as well

[mvnorsel]

No matter what you choose, no life is perfect.

[olik]

My father had 4 kids - he was unhappy as f**k. Having family didn’t fix his life - fixing your life starts from within. To all those who full themselves thinking my life will be beautiful when I have a wife and kids - bulshit - unless you do the inner work - you will only waste your life and your kids life.

[Hgkbukk]

"Father, why do I exist?"
- Well heck kid, what else was I gonna do?

Such purpose, such meaning!

[paulchakola]

Being unmarried and childless has some great benefits: low stress, low debt, freedom to do what you please but it's also made me realize that I have very little 'buy in'. I've had the luxury of establishing my career by picking up and moving at the drop of a hat but I think having a spouse and or kids would give me more purpose.

[jesuschristlives]

I got hurt and now I can't walk. I'm beyond grateful for everyone who has helped me. My family has rallied around me.

[raesully]

My father hated his life, hated his job, hated his wife (my mother) and hated us children.

He also took out his anger out on us, not everyone SHOULD have children and get married.

[kingflixmovies]

I'm 37 and single, no kids, I look at my friends and Co workers who are married (some separated) and have kids and they honestly don't seem to be any happier than me.
I think life is a bit of a slog whichever path you choose.

[jerroldbates]

I married, we had a daughter, all hell broke lose. She left me when my daughter was 2 yrs old. 15 yrs of child support. Living in a dangerous ghetto appt. The most horrible time of my life. 50% of marriage ends in divorce. 80% filed by women.

[chad]

Being married and having children has given me a sense of purpose I didn't know was possible. Is it sometimes miserable? Yes. But it is the most meaningful struggle I have had yet and it is hard to think of one that could be better.

[planeguy]

This is one of the main topics Jordan talks about that I don’t fully agree with. Just saying “that’s life” doesn’t mean it’s what everyone wants. Starting a family is expensive, stressful, risky, reduces your freedom, reduces your options, for many people it reduces their overall enjoyment of life. You have to look at both sides of an argument to fully understand it

[anthonyscully]

i know many parents who do not love their children and regard them as a burden. not every one is suited to being a parent

[chriskappert]

Depends on your personality .
I am a loner from birth, 60 now and perfectly happy on my own .
Even as the oldest of 6 children I felt the need for privacy, and hated the buzz and emotional drama in my family .
Around my 25th I decided the rest of my life is mine !

[johang]

Different people, different needs ... I never had any desire to have kids and as a consequence, up to this day I don't regret not having them. Maybe if, by accident, I would have had one, it might make me happy, but it seems like a waste of time to think about that too often.

[Yassin.ibn.farouk]

Not having kids. I have mental problems and a huge amount of childhood/family trauma. Im not pushing it onto a child and im just riding out the rest of my days trying to make the most of it. I don't need more stress in my life.

[andreaallsopp]

In life you win and you lose, whatever you choose.
For those who can have children, it is the greatest of life offers compensations for those who can't or don't.

[minimumwagedecentguy]

I agree with Jordan Peterson on many things and he helped me turn my life around though i dont believe he will convince me to have kids based on the world situation.

[karek]

My greatest joy is watching my husband interact with our kids. A good marriage multiplies joy and divides sorrow. Doesn't mean there's not hard or challenging aspects that can literally break you (such as childbirth), but then comes the joy X a million and off we go again!

[zamoteh]

I have three children myself, although when I was younger I didn't really want to have any and the thought of having three was simply unimaginable and very scary. But the fact is that having children has made me a better man, a better person in every sense, making me stronger, more responsible and making my life more meaningful and fulfilled. Like it or not, until you have children you are not really fully matured and fully realized as a human being, you remain an immature, emotionally underdeveloped version of yourself. Don't get me wrong, having children is tough and scary and there are many times you wish you didn't have them, but that struggle and those challenges are what makes you tougher, makes you grow as a person, makes you fight for the world we live in, for the community you live in, it gives you more empathy for the people around you. You don't just want to protect your children, you want to protect every child from harm, and you are prepared to risk your life doing so. In short, your life is given a brand new dimension you wouldn't even know existed if you never had children.

Of course there is a caveat that I don't think Jordan Peterson talks about, which is: some people should not have children or even be allowed to have children - psychopaths and sociopaths, drug addicts and alcoholics, and anyone else like that who would only inflict pain and scar their children for life, creating more of the above - a vicious cycle of human suffering. And if you are a normal, decent person: of course you don't have to have children and you will be perfectly OK, your life will be easier, less complicated, less scary; you won't go to the depths of your despair if something happens to your child and have your soul crushed if they die...you will continue to live in a fairly comfortable bubble, and there is nothing wrong with that - being a human being is hard, and each person does what they can to cope with the existential burdens, there should be no judgment either way.