Many of us work hard for it, but why? What is the meaning of success and what is happiness, what should we be aiming for in our lives? The truth is, the answers to these questions might be different for each person.
Success: what does it mean to you? Success is usually understood as accomplishing goals set for oneself or achieving something of significance that would make an impact on one's surroundings. According to theorists like Maslow and Rogers, there are different levels of success for different people.
When we look at the history books though, we see that for most people wealth and influence were the measures of success. The definition is rather relative depending on what part of the world you live in and which age you live in. For example, someone who lives in a third-world country and has a house with running water, nourishing food and a few sheep would consider themselves to be successful. In today's society we have become accustomed to think of wealth and fame as signs of success.
People who are wealthy, well-known, or powerful usually consider themselves successful. But it is not the wealth that makes them happy, it is their perception of success. Everyone's perception of success is relative. A person who earns the same amount as you do might be far happier purely because they don't compare themselves and choose to be grateful.
Success is not a materialistic thing. Success is an attitude. It's the way you perceive something, and decide to go about it. My personal definition of success is living by my own values every day. My happiness lies in being able to be true to myself, knowing that whenever I look into the mirror, I like the person looking back at me.
Think about who you are and what you want in life – are you aiming for big money or a happy family, or perhaps a balance of both? Do you want to leave an imprint on people's minds or perhaps their hearts? What are your drivers?
The happiness paradox
I think we are all looking for happiness – that feeling of contentment – but there is a paradox in striving for happiness. There are three phases of happiness – anticipation, realization and recollection (also called the hedonic cycle). When you are about to reach your goal, you anticipate how happy you will be; but often end up disappointed with the feeling and how short it lasts.
The purpose of life is not happiness. Happiness is a matter of perspective. The key to happiness lies in the ability to know yourself well, live congruently with your goals, values and passions, accept what is and change what you can to keep you on track. If succeeding in business makes you happy, then there is no harm in pursuing your goals. We all have our own unique definitions of success and we all have different things that make us happy, so find what it is that makes you happy and build a life that makes you proud, whatever that looks like.
#Lifehacks How to be successful & happy?
1. Start small
2. Don't get frustrated
3. Make a plan
4. Be persistent
5. Break it down into steps
6. Persist
7. Learn from others
8. Talk to people
9. Get up on time
10. Have a routine
11. Learn to say NO
12. Improve daily
13. Take care of yourself
14. Clean your environment
15. Take breaks
16. Don't give up
17. Ask for help
18. See the big picture
19. Read books
20. Make it fun
21. Be consistent
22. Know when to stop
23. Learn to love yourself
24. Don't compare
25. Build a community
26. Be YOU
27. Say thank you
28. Stay Grateful!
What are your thoughts on happiness v’s success? Do you agree or disagree with any of the points made in this article? Comment below to let us know.
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