Does Chess make you happy?

Do you actually feel joy while playing chess?
Are you actually enjoying it?
Or are you just chasing the ratings?

@UltraVioletBud said in #2:

I love the game and playing it although I don't enjoy every single moment of it at all times. There is much joy but also struggle with trying to improve. Whenever I have chased ratings I have felt more misery. Paradoxically the best way to improve is to dissociate with the rating and immerse yourself regularly.

I noticed I spend more time shaking my heard of myself. swearing for bad moves. frustration. than actually having fun.
Maybe I should just spend my time reading good books instead haha.

@UltraVioletBud said in #4:

Mindset is important. Just remember that by playing chess you are already quite intelligent and goal oriented compared to a vast majority of people. Chess is a hard game and you are not stupid when you make mistakes. Why get frustrated about that? If it makes you unhappy you should stop but I became happier playing when I didn't have such high expectations for myself. I also spend less time playing and more time with puzzles and studying which keeps it more fresh.

Good advice.
Thank you.

It was my mind gym

I like playing chess. That said, I wouldn't call the emotions I feel during a chess game joy. It's kind of like watching a suspense movie, but you control the plot and you don't know if the good guys (Chiksan's pieces, of course) will win.

If your primary goal playing chess is to chase ratings and you get frustrated over your rating, you need to remind yourself that it's a made-up internet number that only exists to match you with similar opponents. If Lichess had an option to hide only your own rating from yourself, I'd use it.

I chase the rating, I hate this game.

When I don't like something anymore, I lose interest and stop.
Of course chess makes me happy, or at least it gives me pleasure, otherwise I would have stop playing. The frustration of losing is part of the game, but it lasts for five minutes, no more. Also because by playing chess I don't prove anything to anyone. If I were a professional it would be different, obviously.
Chess must be fun, fun, fun, fun, fun... There is no point in suffering for no reason when there are so many other things that one can practise with pleasure.

I’m addicted to it :)