Happy Living Magazine: Success Edition

Happiness’ role in success stands as a

demonstrates that one’s ability to enjoy

highly debated topic in society. As today’s

and posses happiness provides him/her

view of success has turned money-hungry,

with a fuller sense of success when it

more and more people question whether

comes to his/her life and that one must

the true key to success lies with happiness.

possess a feeling of happiness in order to

While seeking to define success, one must

lead a successful life. The study of

consider not only their

happiness’ role in success has grown in the

emotional needs but also

past few years as the search for both in

society’s expectation

today's culture

of a successful

grows. In a review of

person.

over 200 studies in

Abraham

Psychological

Maslow, an American

Bulletin,

psychologist and

psychologists found

creator of “Maslow’s

that the old

Hierarchy of Needs”,

assumption that

established that one

happiness is not a

possesses

byproduct of success,

physiological needs as well as the need for

but success stems from happiness (Matta).

safety, love and belonging, esteem and

Therefore, when assessing the criteria for

self-actualization (“Abraham Maslow”).

success, happiness stands as one of the

Maslow claims that in order to lead a

main points. Some argue that success

fulfilling life, one must reach a level of

comes in a tangible form, through houses,

self-actualization and states that

fancy cars, and large amounts of money.

“self-actualizing people enjoy life in

However, if someone achieves these

general and practically all its aspects,

aspects of life, but feels miserable, can

while most other people enjoy only stray

he/she still quantify him/herself as

moments of triumph” (Maslow). This

successful?

Society's view of a successful person can also alter and change one’s definition of success. Even if someone seeks success by pursuing happiness, society may not see him/her in that light. Society’s materialistic views can alter and shape one's definition of success. In today’s standards, in order to appear successful, one often must have a big house, nice car, and the latest technology. In fact, one in five Americans correlate success with monetary wealth (Smith). This proves the role that wealth takes on when it comes to success in today's standards. Additionally, society stands as one of the main influences of an individual's character, so it may seem impossible to feel entirely successful through only happiness without the recognition through society’s standards.

Given these points, the definition of success does not only follow one direction.

It does not possess a concrete definition, since it depends on each person’s belief.

Therefore, when seeking success, one must recognize the importance of emotional needs as well as societal standards. Although happiness does not stand as the only key to success, it does play a substantial role in one’s ability to feel fulfillment in their life.

Shawn Achor, a positive psychology

the inaccuracy of society’s perception that

expert and bestselling author with his book

the harder one works, they will have more

The Happiness Advantage​, has studied the

success, and then achieve happiness. Rather,

relationship between happiness and success

he claims happiness fuels success (Caprino).

and has worked with many individuals and

His findings begin to shape society’s new

groups to find the link between happiness

path to success as well as changing people's

and a successful life (Hickey). He received

attitudes overall, as he emphasizes that

various teaching awards through Harvard

people establish more success when starting

University and lectures there as well about

with a positive attitude rather than “waiting

positive psychology (Caprino). Additionally,

for future success” (Caprino). This

he holds the position of CEO at Good Think

demonstrates that those who work in a

Inc., a company that researches those stand

manner of happiness establish success faster

above average when it comes to positivity to

than those who wait for it to come to them.

determine where success and happiness

Happiness does not only strengthen one’s

come together (Caprino). Through his

mental state, but also fuels success in the

experience at Harvard and extensive

workplace. He claims “sales improve 37%

research, he finds that happiness leads to

cross-industry, productivity by 31%, you're

success in one's personal life as well as

40% more likely to receive a promotion,

one’s career. He refers to this as the

nearly 10 times more engaged at work, live

“happiness advantage”, claiming that

longer, get better grades, your symptoms are

leading a happy life can “be the difference

less acute, and much more” (Caprino).

between leading a fulfilling, joyful, and

Shawn now shares his knowledge by

successful life and living far beneath our full

teaching and lecturing at several

potential” (Caprino).

organizations to establish how one can

Through his research on happiness and how it affects one’s life, he has found

“reprogram” his/her brain in five easy steps (see next page).

Shawn Achor’s Five Easy Steps to a Successful, Happy​, and Rewarding Life 1. Establish a grateful mindset - ​Write down a list of things that you are grateful for everyday 2. Journal - ​Document daily positive experiences for two minutes 3. Exercise​ - ​Establish a routine of 15 minutes of cardio activity 4. Meditate ​- ​Find at least 2 minutes of free time each day to relax 5. Engage in random acts of kindness ​- write someone a kind note, help someone out around the house, or give someone a compliment

Following these steps for just 21 days can create a lasting change in your mindset and lead you on a path to positivity and success!

Overall, Achor seeks to increase understanding about how to “increase happiness and meaning, raise success rates and profitability, and create positive transformations that ripple into more successful cultures” (Caprino).

When searching for someone to

Nova Klein:​ How would you define success

interview about success, many people came to mind, especially my mom, Joanne Draus Klein. She has achieved many

Joanne Draus Klein:​ Reaching the outcome that you hoped you’d reach in terms of making you ultimately happy. It doesn't have to be in terms of money or

successes in her life, both professionally and personally. These include working at

career, it just has to be with meeting the potential

Scene Magazine ​and ​Sun Newspapers,

that you think you had to make yourself happy.

which lead to meeting many people,

NK:​ ​Do you agree that happiness plays a big role in

including her idol, Elton John, attending

achieving success?

various events, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame grand opening, guest hosting

JDK:​ ​A huge role! Because finding financial success or

a local tv show, and one of the biggest

professional success or any other success is

challenges, having and raising triplets.

worthless if you're not happy. Happiness is the

We sat down to discuss the

ultimate goal of success if you're honest with

definition of success, its connection with

yourself.

happiness, and how it has played a role in

NK:​ ​What event in your life do you feel fits the

her life.

connection between success and happiness the best?

JDK:​ ​Raising three great triplets.

NK:​ ​What would you consider your biggest success in life?

JDK: ​Having and raising three great triplets.

NK:​ ​Does happiness play into that success and how?

JDK:​ ​Well, nothing could make me happier than my three great triplets despite the fact that I loved my career so much that I

From this, happiness clearly stands

put off having them. But, once I did, the happiness I

as a key factor in success. Klein

found in the success of raising them superseded

emphasizes that success does not always

whatever happiness I had from my career.

NK: ​What is something you would like to do in order

equate to financial and professional achievements, rather the events in life that provide a sense of happiness. She

to feel more successful in life that you haven't done

notes the lack of worth other feeling of

already?

happiness does not appear, and that

JDK: ​Master my own emotions.

society can establish the connection between happiness and success if they view their life honestly and set the societal

standards behind them. Additionally, she

establishes the importance of connecting

with one’s emotions as it leads to greater

personal understanding, a positive

mindset, and therefore, a stronger sense of

success.

She hopes that from this interview,

society will gain a better understanding of

the importance of happiness in the search

for success, and therefore, will possess less

stress when striving for success.

Dear Editor,

60% of people in a national poll stated

that success means “loving what you do for a living” (Smith). Despite this, another poll found 64% of older Americans talk about making as much money as possible when it comes for job choice (White). ​In the past, many of your articles have established the importance of happiness in one’s vision of success, but given these statistics, I believe this idea should get expressed in the aspect of one’s career path.

Many people choose their career because of salary and end up unhappy because they truly do not enjoy with their work. People in the medical field often fit this mold. The Bureau of Labor Statistics illustrates that medical professions make up most of the top 20 highest-paying occupations (“Highest Paying Occupations”).

Despite this, “many doctors say...they’re unhappy” (Tuttle and Davidson). This proves that money does not equate to happiness, and asserts that unhappy workers cannot truly feel successful. Additionally, young adults seeking a career path should realize that top paying careers do not always end up fitting the person's interests or wants. For

example, studies have shown than 40% of doctors would choose a different career if they got a chance to start over (Tuttle and Davidson). This demonstrates that when people choose to seek success in a manner that would make them wealthy, they often do not feel a sense of fulfillment and often become unhappy with their jobs. ​Focusing on wealth and fame when it comes to success sets high expectations that many cannot reach, making them feel unfulfilled especially when it comes to their career.

Dictionaries even define success as ​“the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence" (Merriam-Webster). Given this, society must establish the idea that success comes from happiness in order to make the world a more fulfilling and enjoyable place, especially in the workforce.

Although we cannot ask those who feel unhappy with their career to change in order to fulfill this definition of success, we can order teenagers and young adults on the path to choose a career to have more awareness when it comes to their own interests and not follow the path that they feel required to take. Additionally, we can persuade companies to make their

environment friendlier and promote happiness. By not including this in future articles, people will continue to hold many opinions that could harm their personal life by depriving them of a truly successful life. I hope you realize the importance this holds in the future of the upcoming generations and incorporate this idea to make the workplace a better and more productive

Dear Nova, As a high school senior, I struggle with finding my path. Although I really have an interest in the arts, I know the difficulty that comes when trying to make a living off of a job in that area. Because of this, I feel a lot of pressure to go to college to get a high degree so I can hold a prestigious job like a doctor or lawyer, especially because both my parents work in the medical field. I do not believe that society has enough respect towards those who choose a more creative job rather than a STEM job. Therefore, I’m worried that if I do go towards the higher level career path, I will regret it in the future. So that’s where my question lies: should I go to college to pursue the career path that would bring me wealth, or should I do what I love?

Signed, Concerned Collegiate

Dear Concerned Collegiate, Finding the path for you can bring many difficulties. Ultimately, the decision is yours, but I have some points for you to consider.

In my eyes, success can define as the ability for one to live life in a manner that brings them happiness. Many positive implications come forth if you pursue a career based on your interests. For example, you have a greater chance at excelling due to factors like optimistic approaches and greater productivity (De Neve and Oswald). Those who work in an environment that makes them happy tend to perform about 12% more productively, leading to higher salaries (De Neve and Oswald).

Additionally, surveys have shown that millennials possess greater want for happiness than wealth when it comes to their career. Therefore, you should not feel alone if you choose to follow your heart. In fact, one study found that those 25-35 years old would “give up and average of $7,600 in pay” for a better career environment

(Malcolm). This establishes the importance of happiness when it comes to career success.

Although receiving a high salary seems ideal for many, a correlation between high salary jobs and stress exists. You mentioned that you feel high pressure to go into the medical field, however, I want to point out that the manifestation of stress currently plagues the medical profession. A study found that 29.6% of medical professionals demonstrated a high level of emotional exhaustion, and even 17.9% felt low personal accomplishment (Khanna). This demonstrates that high pay does not always equate to a feeling of accomplishment. Therefore, if happiness seems important to you, a profession like this may not equate to the best option.

In the end, many factors play into your decision. I hope these points help you weigh out your options, and I wish you good luck.

Nova

WORKS CITED "Abraham Maslow." ​The Pursuit of Happiness​, Pursuit of Happiness, www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/ history-of-happiness/abraham-maslow/. Accessed 16 Apr. 2018.

Caprino, Kathy. "How Happiness Directly Impacts Your Success." ​Forbes​, 6 June 2013, www.forbes.com/ sites/kathycaprino/2013/06/06/how-happiness-directly-impacts-your-success/#7c53a794618b.

Accessed 17 Apr. 2018.

De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel, and Andrew J. Oswald. "Estimating the Influence of Life Satisfaction and Positive Affect on Later Income Using Sibling Fixed Effects." ​Proceedings of the National ​Academy of Sciences of the United States of America​, vol. 109, 19 Nov. 2012, www.pnas.org/ content/109/49/19953/tab-article-info. Accessed 23 Mar. 2018.

Hickey, Kasey. "Is Happiness the Key to Success?" ​BetterUp​, www.betterup.co/ is-happiness-the-key-to-success/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2018.

"Highest Paying Occupations." ​Bureau of Labor Statistics​, 24 Oct. 2017, www.bls.gov/ooh/ highest-paying.htm. Accessed 16 Mar. 2018.

Khanna, Rajeev, and Rashmi Khanna. “Is Medicine Turning into Unhappy Profession?” ​Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine​ 17.1 (2013): 2–6. ​PMC​. Web. 16 Apr. 2018.

Malcolm, Hadley. "Millennials Will Take a Happier Workplace over Better Pay." ​USA Today​, 14 Apr. 2016, www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2016/04/14/ millennials-workplace-happy-salary-pay/82943186/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2018.

Maslow, Abraham. ​Toward a Psychology of Being​. 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1999.

Matta, Christy. "Does Success Lead to Happiness?" ​Psych Central​, psychcentral.com/blog/ does-success-lead-to-happiness/. Accessed 17 Apr. 2018.

Smith, Jaquelyne. "This Is How Americans Define Success." ​Business Insider​, 3 Oct. 2014, www.businessinsider.com/how-americans-now-define-success-2014-10. Accessed 22 Mar. 2018.

"Success." ​Merriam-Webster​.

Tuttle, Brad, and Jacob Davidson. "5 High-Paying Jobs That Will Make You Miserable." ​Time​, 9 Sept.

2014, time.com/money/3304389/jobs-career-unhappy/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2018.

White, Gillian B. "Millennials in Search of a Different Kind of Career." ​The Atlantic​, 12 June 2018,

www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/06/millennials-job-search-career-boomers/395663/.

Accessed 22 Mar. 2018.

As a junior at Chagrin Falls High School, I have worked towards success in my school’s band program as well as other school aspects. In my eyes, success represents one's ability to go through life in a manner that brings happiness.

To begin, my participation in band stands as one of my biggest successes. For the past five years, I have competed in Solo and Ensemble, a judged event in which a soloist or an ensemble performs. Each year, my ensemble received the highest rating. I believe this stems from my enjoyment of it. While working in an ensemble, I got to work with some of my close friends. I believe our success came because of our close relationship and the fun we had working together. Hence, I believe that in order to succeed, one must feel a level of happiness and enjoyment. Additionally, when I got asked to participate in jazz band last year, I faced a challenge: learn a new instrument. Despite this challenge, I felt successful because I enjoyed the experience. This demonstrates that happiness stands as a leading factor to success. Overall, I succeeded in the group because I felt happy when performing, not because I felt obligated to participate.

My idea of success also ties into my schoolwork. I believe succeeding in school does not only tie to grades, but the overall experience. For example, I feel successful in school because I feel happy with my accomplishments and I can maintain good grades because I take classes that I enjoy. This motivates me to work hard because I learn about material that interests me. Additionally, by taking classes I enjoy, I can avoid overwhelming myself by not pursuing a workload of material I do not have an interest in. In addition to academics, I feel successful because of extracurriculars. By participating in various different clubs, I feel well-rounded and involved, which leads to success and fulfillment. One of the clubs that I feel demonstrates the relationship between success and happiness is Connect. While participating in a club that creates relationships between students with special needs and others around the high school, I feel rewarded and successful after each meeting by seeing the impact our actions have on the students. For example, after having a cookie decorating party, I felt rewarded because it brought so much joy to the students. This illustrates that success does not appear in a tangible manner, but comes with one's perception of happiness.

Altogether, I write to those seeking success to demonstrate the correlation between happiness and success. When one can find a way to bring happiness into his/her life, success will come.

Therefore, success comes from one’s self, not the manufactured definition of fame and fortune.