Everyone – young and old, rich and poor, men and women, from whatever race or culture – wants to be happy. Yet happiness is notoriously elusive.
It is sometimes confused with pleasure and excitement, or just the absence of unhappiness. But true happiness is a sustained state rather than, say, the short-lived high of a physical relationship or alcohol consumption. And merely not being unhappy does not necessarily mean that you are happy – happiness is not a binary option.
The ‘thank God it’s Friday’ mindset is an admission that happiness can only ever be a small part of your life
Some professionals think of happiness as inextricably tied to career success. But promotion, recognition and status don’t give rise to sustained happiness either. As with the unending pursuit of entertainment, money, material acquisitions, events, awards and recognitions, the high they provide is short-lived and typically succeeded by a sense of dissatisfaction that can only be – temporarily – assuaged by more.
Yet work is by no means a happiness-free zone. Deferring your happiness to weekends or holidays only – the ‘thank God it’s Friday’ mindset – is an admission that happiness can only ever be a small part of your life. But why allow yourself to be unhappy Monday to Friday when you can be happy every day?
In the challenging economic times we currently live in, there is a tendency to switch into crisis mode and accept that simply surviving is good enough. It doesn’t have to be. Happiness is challenge-independent.
Your happiness is your responsibility, it is not a gift conferred on you by others
It’s really about taking control. Happiness is not a gift conferred on you by other people or external factors. Your happiness is your responsibility.
What then can you do to be happy? Here are my top tips:
Change your perspective
Start by defining what success means for you and find a greater purpose in what you do beyond earning a living. Purposeful work contributes to happiness.
Often enough, happiness does not come from what happens to you; rather, it is a reflection of your perspective on life and how you react to situations, whether good or bad. Happy people are generally more creative and productive, so it helps with career success too.
Prioritise what keeps you happy
Don’t focus only on what makes you happy; prioritise what keeps you happy. There is a world of difference between the two.
For example, successfully completing a course of study could bring you some temporary joy, but applying the knowledge and skills you have gained to solving real-life problems or contributing meaningfully to your community or society at large could bring you a longer-lived happiness. Building healthy relationships and social connections, and helping others, can keep you happier than personal accomplishments, money or material possessions.
Avoid happiness killers
Some behaviours are bound to take your joy away, such as comparing your success to other people’s. Success is not relative. Life is not a competition.
Also, focus on what is within your control. If you worry continuously about things such as high inflation or the rising cost of living, unhappiness is guaranteed. Instead, plan your response based on possible scenarios and move on. Always give your best; that way, even if things don’t work out as expected, you will know you will have done what you could.
Maintain a positive mindset
Count your blessings and practise gratitude. It is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time. Look for the good in everything.
Good times present great opportunities, but tough times provide even greater ones. Don’t stop living and start panicking – being in a state of calm helps you make better decisions and improves your wellbeing.
Make informed decisions
From career decisions to investment and relationships, ensure to balance your emotions with logical reasoning and a good understanding of the issues and evidence. Nothing is rarely as good as you think or as bad as you fear.
Finally, don’t base your decisions on general perceptions or assumptions. Use data and due diligence to blank out the noise and focus on the real issues. And think long term.
More information
There are plenty more AB articles to read on physical and mental wellbeing on the ACCA careers site, including ‘Exercise: forget the quick fix’, ‘Build self-awareness at work’, and ‘Leadership: don’t let power seduce you’
