Bro. Is this not status seeking? This statement is arrogant. But it could be true.
>I ignored status, adopted the idea that I need to to develop my talent, and it has now paid off dividends.
What sort of dividends? I bet you it's related to higher status.
>Being happy is actually very simple, just not easy. Do the things that make you happy.
In a way you're right. It's paradoxical because of the human drive for status. Gaining high status involves a lot of stress and activities that don't inherently make someone happy. It's a competitive world for a high status position.
Not competing is low stress and involves many behaviors that make you happy. But ironically while one part of you is happy, another part of you is unhappy because you are aware of your low status.
So people usually choose a middle ground. Everyone basically seeks status to some form or degree, it is fundamentally impossible to have this status seeking be absent. The person I'm talking with more likely meant that he... like many people ... compromised on status.
