Is happiness the key to success?

Are success and happiness connected?

Often, the way we think of success is in terms of how it relates to our career or financial situation. Many of us believe that we’d be happier if we just had more money or a better job.

But, science shows that this isn’t always the case. 

Fostering happiness in our lives may actually be what leads us to success, not the other way around. 

In pursuit of happiness

While it may feel like the search for happiness is a new phenomenon, it’s a tale as old as time. 

People have wondered about happiness for centuries, even if the recent resurgence of interest often focuses on the relationship between career success and happiness.

Researchers used to believe happiness was at least half genetic, but people are starting to discover how someone’s happiness levels can change at any point. 

We’re dispelling the myth that you can be born a “happy person,” and instead focusing on how we can all become happier people. 

Many factors contribute to someone’s experience of happiness, but most of these factors represent daily choices. 

With slight mindsets and habit shifts, our happiness experience could be vastly different.

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Is happiness the end goal?

Even if we can impact our happiness at any time, is happiness really the end goal? Do we need to be happy to live successful lives? 

When we have priorities like work, family, and friendship, sometimes happiness unconsciously drops to the bottom of our priority list. 

However, we know that these factors directly contribute to our overall experience of joy, too. Seeing the meaning and personal value behind our priorities can help shift our mindsets toward happiness.

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Pinning our happiness to any single factor usually doesn’t get us closer to a life that’s well-lived and enjoyed. That’s why success alone won’t make us happy. 

But, redefining how we look at success and finding more meaning in our experiences can help us shift our baseline happiness levels and feel more satisfied.

Stress, unhappiness, and work

Part of our cultural refocusing on success and happiness comes from experiencing higher stress levels. 

Stress is the leading negative factor that impacts happiness levels, which inspires a growing interest in work/life balance. 

Since stress decreases life satisfaction and stress is often experienced at work, some people believe that career success could be the key to their happiness.

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But, stress doesn’t need to have this negative impact on our lives. Stress usually impacts us negatively because we can’t see the meaning or purpose behind our worries.

If the stress we experience relates to our goals and dreams, it can be easier to manage. Refocusing on our goals can help us achieve the success we want without compromising our happiness to get there. 

We tend to feed off each other’s emotions (in psychology this [is called] emotional contagion). [The key] is to be more verbally and nonverbally expressive of your optimism so that others on your team can benefit from it and feed it back to you.

Happiness as a choice and shifting habits

We don’t have to look far to find happiness, but we do have to practice looking. 

The habit of happiness calls for focus and attention on developing a positive attitude. When we have a pattern of focusing on negativity, it can be tough to see the joy in our lives right now.

Positive change comes from building positive habits. But, developing those habits doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Even a few minutes a day spent meditating can shift your mindset from overwhelmed to calm.

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These simple shifts have a compounding effect, leading to a happier and more fulfilling life. As your team starts seeing your shifts, your example can help them find success and happiness at work, too. 

[At work], the best way to create change is to model it. Your team will never strive for success unless they see you trying for that. 

Happiness can also be connected to motivation. If your team is disengaged from your culture or company mission, it will be difficult for them to find success and happiness. 

Start by reminding people that happiness leads to success, not the other way around. Encourage your teammates to find meaning in their work, even when they haven’t yet achieved their big milestones.