Success and happiness

Success is different from one to another

Take a minute to think about how "successful" you are.

Now think about what criteria you used to evaluate yourself. Some people might look to their bank account. Others to various degrees they've collected. Many would look to their relationships with a spouse, their children, their friends. Some might even open their closet and look to their collection of designer shoes, bags and watches.

Do I consider myself "successful?" I do. I've created a pretty awesome business; I’m well respected in my field; and I have multiple degrees. I love my home, and my relationships are strong.

But on the other hand, I don’t own my home. I sold my condo when I divorced. I’m also overweight, which doesn’t exactly paint a picture of success -- especially for a woman. Oh, and I quit my PhD 93 pages into my dissertation.

To some people, I might not look like a smashing success.

Happiness

In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happy mental states may reflect judgements by a person about their overall well-being.

Success and happiness

“Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.”- Ingrid Bergman

Success and happiness, happiness and success. People have a tendency to confuse the two, mixing them up until they can't distinguish between the very different but seemingly unified terms.

In a culture based on profit and earnings, we've grown up to attribute happiness as the product of success, measuring our lives by the level of our achievements and goals attained. Like a bad analogy, many equate success to the forefront of happiness, foregoing the second part of the equation to achieve the first. They think happiness is at the end of the climb and success is just a measure of it.

Because success may seem like the goal, but happiness is the way there. Success is all the money in the world; happiness is having people to spend it on. Success is measurable; happiness is limitless. Success is a fancy car; happiness is a great ride.Success is working hard; happiness is loving the work.