Success Follows Happiness…Not the Other Way Around

How often do you feel the need to be successful at your job, career or goals in order to be happy?  As an Enneagram 3, I struggle hard with this one! I naturally tend to measure my self worth by how successful I am at my job, achieving my goals, and receiving accolades. I thrive on the thrill of going after what I want and making shit happen.

Success follows happiness, Rachel Skye

But what happens when I don’t get hired for that job, miss a deadline or don’t hit a goal? Where does my happiness go? How does my self worth measure up? 

And there lies the pitfall ladies. 

That’s why it’s crucial to separate your work/drive/goals from your self-worth. Winning makes you feel light. Failure weighs you down. Do you really want your self-worth bouncing around in constant flux?? It feels like a freakin’ emotional rollercoaster.  

There will always be ups and downs in life which you can’t control. But you can control how you feel about yourself. You can intentionally choose happiness and keep happiness a constant in your life despite the ups and downs of pursuing your goals.  

If you truly want to win, lead with happiness. Allow success to be the byproduct of your happiness. Success follows happiness, not the other way around.

Photo credit: Clay Banks

“Even though I may have failed at _____, I deeply love and appreciate myself and my life.