Does Being Happy Create Success?
Chances are you have heard that being happy and genuinely having a positive lens in life results in success. But is that true? Can our attitude in life change the whole trajectory of our life? Does staying blindly optimistic and jolly open us up to more opportunities in life and allow us to be more successful?
It is not a myth that positive affect, a human characteristic describing how we experience positive feelings, can provide us with a more fulfilling life; according to a meta-analysis conducted by the APA, there is a positive correlation between happiness and success in various domains.
These studies suggest that “happy Individuals tend to be successful across multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance and health” (Lyubomirsky, 2005).
Beneficial Traits of Positivity
Positive affect is also associated with many beneficial traits and behaviors that result in success in society, such as:
Confidence
Sociabilities
Effective coping skills
Autonomy
It has also emphasized a happy childhood as it has determined that “positive affectivity at the end of adolescence predicted outcomes such as financial independence, occupational attainment, and work autonomy in young adulthood.” (Lyubomirsky, 2005) and that “lowered positive affect is associated with delinquent activity in adolescents” (Windle, 2000)
So does that mean happiness leads to success, or is happiness something we must obtain and that success leads to happiness?
The Invisible Hand
In another comprehensive research, it has been argued and revealed that happiness and positive affect correlate with success and maybe the “invisible hand” that results in it.
Unshockily, it suggests that happiness is a critical predictor of overall life satisfaction, impacting domains like family life, health, and personal relationships. These domains significantly impact our quality of life and our sense of well-being and success.
On top of the many beneficial traits and attributes that are obtainable through a positive attitude in life, positive emotions have also been shown to broaden our cognitive and behavioral repertoires, which results in the accumulation of resources and skills that are parallel to successful outcomes.
On top of that, happy people just radiate positive energy that also brings positivity to their surroundings, further attracting different life opportunities.
The Bidirectional Relationship between Happiness and a Fulfilling Life
Not only is there a bidirectional relationship between happiness and a fulfilling life, but research has also indicated that being in a constant state of disharmony and unhappiness could not only severely affect our individual sense of well-being as “unhappy individuals are more likely to develop anxiety conditions and depression” (Layard et al. 2013) but also threatening our survival, as “there is a positive correlation between self-declared unhappiness and suicidal risk” (Daly et al. 2009)
That is not to worry about if you are currently or have been struggling with upholding a positive effect in life, as meditations and mindful workouts can help us notice happy moments in life and help us strive for a more present and obtain a positive attitude.
Staying mindful is associated with gratitude, which results in happiness in our lives, and “mindful individuals are more likely to notice positive life experiences and be grateful for them” (Emmons and Stern, 2013).
Using Quabble to Practice Mindfulness:
Luckily, the Quabble app provides an exceptional platform to practice mindfulness with extensive and exquisite mindful workouts such as the Mood Diary, which can help us keep track of mood emotions and help us identify the triggers of our happiness or negative emotions.
The bamboo forest allows us to express our negative emotions in an open and accepting environment, making us feel heard, which assists us in finding happiness in our lives and keeping a positive attitude.
It is safe to conclude that happiness and positive affect are critical and essential to success, well-being, and life satisfaction. Being happy in life is associated with a beneficial trait that contributes to the success of our careers, relationships, and self-esteem. Having a positive attitude opens up opportunities in our lives that result in success, but it also provides us with life satisfaction and improves our quality of life.
Not having a positive effect on life can negatively affect our well-being and life satisfaction, as it has been associated with mental disorders and even suicide. Meditations and mindful workouts can help us positively affect life, and Quabble provides an extraordinary platform to practice mindfulness with its extensive and comprehensive Meditations and Mindful Workout features that capture our emotions and support mindfulness that identifies our happiness in life.
Kick off your journey to a fulfilling and happier life today by trying some distinctive features on the Quabble APP, like the Bamboo forest, to freely express your feelings and emotions while connecting with others on the journey.
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