A recent study with over 70K people:
Seeking fame or money (above a certain threshold) does not contribute to life-satisfaction.
Here are 5 principles that do:
Seeking fame or money (above a certain threshold) does not contribute to life-satisfaction.
Here are 5 principles that do:
1. Autonomy:
At least some control over how you spend your time and energy.
It's why learning how to say "no" is so important and powerful.
At least some control over how you spend your time and energy.
It's why learning how to say "no" is so important and powerful.
2. Mastery:
Concrete progress that can be traced back to the effort you put in.
It's why carpenters, writers, and artists are often happier than people who work in highly political and dysfunctional workplaces.
Concrete progress that can be traced back to the effort you put in.
It's why carpenters, writers, and artists are often happier than people who work in highly political and dysfunctional workplaces.
3. Belonging:
Connection to something greater than yourself—be it a community, cause, team, organization, or tradition.
Chasing fame and money tend to be ego-driven—and ego-driven pursuits involve a lot of navel-gazing and anxiety. That's no fun!
Connection to something greater than yourself—be it a community, cause, team, organization, or tradition.
Chasing fame and money tend to be ego-driven—and ego-driven pursuits involve a lot of navel-gazing and anxiety. That's no fun!
4. Health:
Sacrificing physical or mental health now to chase some goal that you think will make you happy later almost never works. It's a trap!
(An enticing one, too.)
Progress is great, but only if it's sustainable—and sustainability rests on a foundation of health.
Sacrificing physical or mental health now to chase some goal that you think will make you happy later almost never works. It's a trap!
(An enticing one, too.)
Progress is great, but only if it's sustainable—and sustainability rests on a foundation of health.
5. Meaning:
It's better to pursue work and activities that are in alignment with your values than it is to chase arbitrary numbers on a dashboard.
Full stop.
It's better to pursue work and activities that are in alignment with your values than it is to chase arbitrary numbers on a dashboard.
Full stop.
It's worth nothing that money DOES matter up to a point. And that point (i.e., "threshold") depends on things like geography and family size.
But seeking additional money (or fame) for the sake of being rich or whatever is where the data show things fall apart.
But seeking additional money (or fame) for the sake of being rich or whatever is where the data show things fall apart.
In summary—ruthlessly prioritize:
-Autonomy
-Mastery
-Belonging
-Health
-Meaning
True success is about knowing what game you are playing and why you are playing it.
-Autonomy
-Mastery
-Belonging
-Health
-Meaning
True success is about knowing what game you are playing and why you are playing it.
For more on the science of life-satisfaction and fulfillment, check out my new book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing—Including You.
Order your copy now and get a bunch of incredible bonuses, including an online masterclass: bit.ly
Order your copy now and get a bunch of incredible bonuses, including an online masterclass: bit.ly
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