It seems that everyone's ultimate goal in life is happiness; whereas success-- is usually the means in which happiness is accomplished. Success by some people are defined as: wealth and fame. Therefore, if one is successful, they are sequentially happy-according to society . This common myth, that success brings happiness, however is an illusion,because happiness is not an emotional finish line, but a process and a resource. The idiom, “The Pursuit of Happiness” is for most people, “The Pursuit of Success”.
Most people believe that happiness results when they complete a long battle. The battle, can be four years of high school or the pursuit of becoming wealthy. We believe that because we have worked so hard for something, that the only possible resultant is happiness. We then begin to pursue success more than happiness. In this pursuit, our definition of success or what makes us happy, may change. So when one actually reaches their initial goal, they may be searching for something much different. Society makes people believe being wealthy or having fame is what will make them happy, because it may fill a void in their life. In pursuit of wealth, a person can be compelled to go against everything they believe in because, as already mentioned, their ultimate goal in life is to be happy. Once they reach “happiness”, which society defines as success, they are not the same person because they dispelled the morals that defined who they were.
Happiness is not really success, it is a process. Happiness, scientifically, is actually a choice. Happiness results when we use our brain’s finite resources to look at the positive in life. According to neurologists, if we analyze a situation and look only at the negative then we will not be happy, because our brain’s resources are completely used by focusing on negative aspects of a situation. When we focus on the positive, however, our brain’s resources are used to reap magnificent advantages (Anchor). Positive thinking, I believe, is the key to happiness. If we laugh more we will be happier. Success, only offers a small percentage, in what happiness means physiologically-it is NOT, equal to happiness however.
Society’s image of happiness is wealth. Society shows us the lives of wealthy people, for the purpose of marketing. That is why Nike signs athletes such as Lebron James. They influence us to believe that, because Lebron is rich and wears Nike shoes, that if everyone wears the same shoes as Lebron they might play basketball like him, and become wealthy and happy just like him. Happiness is not wealth, or whatever one’s definition of success is, it is the choice to look at the bright aspect of life. So be optimistic and be happy!
