The Happiness formula is WRONG!
March 2, 2012 § 31 Comments
Now that you graduated and have fulfilled the wishes of your institution, community, society, your parents, are you happy? If you are, then good! If you are not, like 83% of the newly graduates (fake statistics, don’t flame me), who end up with no job, or worse yet, a job that does not even require a high school diploma. So how does that makes you feel?
Anyways, my point is that the formula for success is not working. Notice in the picture to the side, that Happiness is a RESULT! It is not a part of the process, nor is it guaranteed at the end.
So, is there a backup plan for the great Success and Happiness formula, if the formula happens to fail? I don’t know about you, but I had to take a good look around (the web) in order to find inspiration and some sort of motivation to not become a person who blames their environment for my own doing. Most of my motivation comes from watching videos of speakers from Ted.com.
I came across a speaker name Shawn Achor and his talk about Happiness being the main ingredient for productivity. In the society that we live in, it seems like we’re more interested in mass manufacture people than foster individuals with the capacity to be great. There are more interests in making everyone average than bringing the average up to stellar and having stellar as the new average. Wouldn’t that be nice?
As you all know, working hard does not always equate to success. Neither would success bring you the happiness you want. So why is Happiness the last step in your formula? Shouldn’t it be the first thing you try to figure out? Like, what remotely makes me happy? Can I do something with that passion? What do I need to succeed? Whom do I trust to share this passion with? Does it matter if I fail while doing something I love?
These are all the questions that I constantly asked myself while I am journey bound toward my goal. Ultimately, I am just satisfied at the fact that later, I won’t be regretting what I could have done today.
(If you made it all the way down here, please comment 
I’m new to blogging, but it seems tough to get people to talk to you. I already fail in real life. But it seems much tougher even on the internet! Just leave me a “HI”, I’ll find ways to talk to ya )
Tuan, I enjoy reading your blogs, but I don’t like you saying that you are a failure!!! You are still young & I have faith that you will find your way in this crazy world…..
Ohh my… Did i say that in my post?
I try to make sure my message is mostly positive with some humor. I hope those humor does not reflect my personality as being negative.
But thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it!
Out of all the posts on this blog, this is the one I’ve appreciated most. I’m not quite sure as to why. I just find the message interesting. Really. I love this site. Keep it up. I very much enjoy all you’ve done so far.
I agree with you, it does appear that what is spoon fed to the masses is that if you go to college and work hard you’ll achieve success and as an end result happiness. However, happiness is something that is within each of us. We might find it in the small things, within people that we love, or in giving back to those less fortunate. It’s not about working hard for other people, but about working to your full potential and towards your own goals. I think success is whatever the definition that you want it to be…however many people confuse success and happiness with materialistic wealth. When in reality true “wealth” is knowing that you are loved, that you love those in your life, that you have people who care about you… In the end you can’t take all the materialistic items with you. What you can take is peace of mind knowing that you lived your life honestly and with love and compassion for other people. We as a population should really be focusing how we can make life and the world better and appreciate how lucky and truly blessed we are and not focusing on what someone else has that we do not.
Well said. Thank you for taking time out to share your thoughts on my article.
There are so many ways to be happy out there. If only society weren’t so rigid in its thinking, we, individually would find some sort of happiness for ourselves. Imagine a world where everyone’s dream comes true. Alone, our dreams might be unreachable, but with people and a greater purpose, there shouldn’t be anything that can stop a dream from coming true.
And you’re right. If we stop our pursuit of materialism, and put more focus on the people, our world could be a better place
So…let the concern of what society thinks and “expects” of you and us and just live life
Act as though there are no consequences, do what is right and good…others will follow you by example.
I read somewhere that happiness can’t be your goal, it is actually a byproduct of doing what you love…
That kinda make sense
I believe it! I think i understand what you’re talking about, but do you have more information to clarify a little further?
I believe he was saying that if you enjoy hiking, go hiking. Because you love it, you will feel happiness. But you can’t say, I’m going to be happy because I’m successful. You’re right. That is not the formula.
new insights. awesome. thanks for sharing :p
“Does it matter if I fail while doing something I love?”
>> You’ve got some interesting thoughts here. I especially liked your efforts to find it in yourself to not blame others and your surroundings when you fail, or something bad happens. I kinda want to make that a lifetime trait, too. Keep it up, alright.
Thank you. I’ve been negative most of my life and that got me nowhere. So I want to make my effort as positive as possible from now on.
It is definitely a good lifetime trait. Sometimes you will doubt yourself, but have important people around you that understands you and encourage you to get through it
[...] The Happiness Formula is WRONG! [...]
I have a friend who was in the negative journey for much of his life. He has made up his mind that he will now look for positive and be around those who are positive. He finally let go of the ‘personalization’ of those who were negative around him, whether family, friends or co-workers. The journey has been tough for him, but step by step, he is realizing each day the little positive changes in his life. It is great being part of his new journey.
I like the mass manufacturing part. Keep on writing!
Thank you. I love the little moments of human connection like this on the internet. I will certainly step forward with every bit of positivity that I can muster out of myself.
Fantastic!
I agree to your post but you are not a failure..I am still searching for the big H but I don’t consider myself a failure
will reblog…
Haha, did I really put failure somewhere in there? I got to change that. Anyways, thanks for the read.
I tend to do that too but it is really a bad habit…breaking that cycle of negativity will be a good start
Lovely article
You know, it is very hard to convey your emotion with typing words. What i often do is put out something negative and negate it with an improvement (positive). I like to stay as honest as I could because I really want to connect with people through my honesty. I don’t want to just hide the negative that I (people) go through so we can paint a happy picture for ourselves. I think the worst thing that people can do is to knowingly lie to themselves about who they are and what they’re about.
You have a point there but sometimes people don’t see it that way..just a thought…
Reblogged this on Jenny's Serendipity and commented:
I totally agree with Tanguyenable about the Happiness formula but do not agree about him being a failure. Sure still searching for the Big H but don’t consider myself a failure….
hi, i seem to stumbel unop this as iam new to all this also. i like this b/c iam a firnm believer in be happy dont worry lmao and laughter is the best medicine. Iam stage 4 copd w/ end emphysema goin for a lung transplant if i make it there, so happiness caught my eye b/c no matter what, iam optimistic
iam always laughing,very true happiness can not make u like or love your job,so thats is the wrong formula if thats what people think ,but it can sure help you feel better,:) good luck to you, keep writing!! can you tell me how to get my post out here for the public to read, Iam computer spazzz, but iam still laughing lol, thanks,joanne.
Hi, thank you for reading. The best way to get your posts out there is by posting consistantly like a post every two three days. Go read others’ blogs and comment like you’re doing now. And be active in caring for your readers. Provide some sort of value for your reader so that they come back. Things like that
Good luck and keep laughing.
thanks soo much, iam here to really put out an awarness to people about the severe danger of smoking, info on copd the stage, emphysema, lung transplants, so ,just wanted to introduce myself ,also very goos blog and thanks for the advice, i reli appreciate it, have a good day and have a happy journey
Good luck!
[...] The Happiness formula is WRONG! [...]
I agree with you 100%! This is great, I never would have known you were new to blogging if you hadn’t mentioned it, you are totally NOT a failure!
well, thank you for your kind words. I am pretty new. I have to watch my consistency and have to constantly keep in mind about my audience.
But love your post. Hope to come across your sense of humor again on your next post
I heard once, “Do what you love and the money will follow” I don’t know it that’s true for everyone or even for anyone. I think happiness is finding the joy in the everyday. In the doing nothing, in the company you keep. I work in a job that requires no diploma, none. But working there has allowed me a set schedule, a steady paycheck and decent benefits, all of which has allowed me to be a mom to my amazing daughter who will too soon be off to college. I don’t regret a day. Sure, we have not had a wealthy life by any means, but we have had a great deal of happiness.
Smile more. Laugh loud and often. Blow more bubbles.
Soozie
Thank you for sharing Soozie. That’s awesome that you stumble across something you’re satisfied with. But with me and most people, we just haven’t found anything that we’re passionate about yet. Perhaps the problem is us.