Success and Happiness - A Short Story

Does achieving a goal bring only brief satisfaction?

Still aiming for that milestone that brings you happiness?

Dopamine (a neurotransmitter that contributes to pleasure) is released by the brain in anticipation of reward. When we work towards a goal, we get a surge of dopamine. After achieving our goal, our dopamine levels drop.

In fact, many successful professionals feel confident that they can achieve their goals, and that the path there is just a formality. This causes the brain to think that the goal has been reached before it has, and our dopamine levels start to fall while we are still working towards the goal.

When the goal has been achieved, the success doesn’t feel rewarding - the process to get there doesn’t feel that fulfilling either. This often leads to the misconception that this current achievement is not enough, and that the next achievement will bring more happiness.

What follows is a never-ending cycle of jumping from goal to goal in search of the feeling of happiness and satisfaction, only to never find it.

How to overcome this:

1. Be mindful of this cycle. After each success, take time to reflect on the goal you have just achieved, the work you did to get there and what you have learned from the journey. Give yourself the time and space to enjoy the achievement and show gratitude to yourself.

   
   

2. Remember that achievements do not define you. Yes, they are an important part of your life (or else you wouldn’t be a successful professional!) but they are most definitely not more important than your health and relationships.

   
   

3. Take the time to connect with the meaningful relationships in your life and do not neglect your health (at the very least, prioritise getting a good night's sleep!). Focusing on relationships and health will contribute to the contentment you feel.

   
   

4. Connect with nature. Take a walk in the park, go on a hike, have a picnic in a forest. Spending time in nature helps shift the perspective of the “self” and its challenges, allowing your problems to fade in the presence of something greater and more profound.

Hope the awareness from this post helps break the cycle of chasing happiness through success and goals, promoting a more wholesome and balanced way of life.