Does Success Actually Make us Happier?

The definition of success lives on a heavily debated and evolving spectrum. On one side, success is vain and materialistic. It is defined by the car we drive, the house we own, the salary we make, or even the school our kids attend. People are entitled to take pride in achieving some form of material success but as we all know; they are far from the full picture in our definition of success.

Yes, money and possessions alone can’t buy happiness (original I know). The obvious implication of that saying is that success indeed requires more nuance, and it is very strongly tied to the idea of happiness. ?

Success is as much an emotional practice as it is a monetary one. We often debate between the two sides of the ‘success spectrum’ when defining success as a source of happiness. However, in reality, to understand the root of joy, we have to understand where the two ends of success converge and why.

What drives our fulfillment professionally, emotionally, and socially? And how do these factors culminate in success?

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Purpose Gives us Guidance to Finding Success and Fulfillment

People who are driven by purpose are more intentional and effective in their own execution and in leading the performance of others. Purpose helps us stay on task through months of planning and burnout, purpose helps us demonstrate courage in the face of unforeseen obstacles and purpose helps us motivate, guide, and even inspire those on a similar journey as ours.

To rephrase it, purpose makes us happier because it gives what we do meaning. Whether it's starting a company, building a legacy, changing the world, or raising a family, we need meaning to motivate us to contribute a positive contribution to society. The monetary perks of success help fund many of the things that give us meaning but alone it is only a blip.

Curiosity is the Catalyst of Purpose and Happiness

Those best equipped to flourish in today’s world are the ones who are humble enough to recognize what they don’t know and ask the right questions. Research even suggests curious people actually live longer!

Curiosity is what creates the connection between happiness, purpose, and success. Curiosity at the very least is exciting. Think of moments when you were curious. We are more excited when we pursue answers to questions we truly care about. The depth and importance of our curiosity create an unbreakable sense of purpose within us. Driven by curiosity, and fueled by purpose, we can achieve great goals for ourselves in our personal and professional lives which ultimately culminate in both success and happiness.

How Our Happiness and Purpose Fuels Success in Others

As curiosity fuels our purpose and happiness, we are more empowered to elevate those around us. As purpose helps us be happier and more courageous, we are equipped to form stronger bonds with the people in our professional and personal lives.

Our curiosity inherently breeds a sense of caring and understanding of others which is extremely powerful in forming human relationships.

For this reason, leaders driven by curiosity and purpose are always more inclusive and engaging with their teams. They are more effective at showing humility and vulnerability in a way that brings out the voices of others and connects them to a shared goal. The connections formed by this dynamic form a sense of belonging and shared purpose that ultimately helps teams perform more effectively and achieve more success.

What can we do tomorrow to become more curious, purpose-driven, and happy?

Start with your core values – values are a strong foundation that guides our purpose.

Set strong goals – strong goals comprise a mission-driven result with a deep understanding of the various steps needed to achieve said goal.

Prioritize positive connections with other people – the more you truly understand the people around you, the more you can grow and achieve mutual success.