Happiness = Success

It's interesting that we've been asked this question. I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's responses because I definitely think there will be a huge variety of answers. I've had this question posed to me before and I would say my idea of success hasn't changed much...until about thirty minutes ago.

Thirty minutes ago, this would have been my response: I grew up believing that success meant becoming a doctor...shocker right? But through time I’ve been exposed to other ideas and experiences. Through my sister, I’ve learned that success can't be limited to simply monetary or professional success. If so, she'll never be 'successful' according to that definition. Instead, success is overcoming the small obstacles that in turn, make you a better individual than you were before. In addition, success can't be limited to a certain field. It's just not fair to say that a CEO is more 'successful' than a writer. Rather, what makes that distinction is the amount of work you place in becoming the best. In general, success is becoming the best through the individual roadblocks you may encounter, and giving back what you have achieved.

But now, I'm not so sure. Thirty minutes ago, I watched a video that a classmate of mine posted that we're going to discuss in class. The video talks about happiness and success. The speaker is a CEO of a new and revolutionary idea that says if we place so much emphasis on being 'successful', happiness can never be attained, which further stunts our potential of success. It's not reality that shapes us, it's the lens through which you see reality. So if you change the lens, you can change happiness, and change every single educational, business, and personal outcome at the same time. (Every time you reach a goal and expect to be happy with the success, your brain automatically reaches for the next goal and so on and so forth. By doing so, one never really reaches the state of 'success' we hope to.)

So, the correct formula to success is actually the opposite of what we have traditionally believed. When your brain is in a state of positivity, it experiences a happiness advantage which means that it performs significantly better than in neutral, negative, or stress. Your energy, intelligence, and creativity rises. In his research he found that every single business outcome improves and your brain is more productive.

A lot of my former definition of success was dependent on concentrating on the blocks and challenges you face. Although the state at which you started and where you have ended is really important to a measure of success, it's not the best or sole definition. Now, by watching the video my classmate posted, I think my views have changed a little. I'd add this to my previous definition: a successful person is one that has reached the highest 'happiness advantage' state, because they are the ones that optimize their abilities and are the ones who are the best at what they do.

I encourage you to watch the video yourself (especially if you don't agree with what he said or are skeptical), because I don't think my explanation did it justice. The guy is hilarious and very insightful and will be the most useful 10 minutes you spend today. I PROMISE YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work

Peace,

Mariam