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Happiness and Success

April 20, 2008 by Liz Leave a Comment

Recently, as part of “switch” among fellow bloggers, I wrote post for LinkedIntelligence, called How My Blog Turbo Powers My LinkedIn Connections. Now Liz Fuller, from Business and Blogging, has graciously offered one on success for us here. I’ll let Liz explain further. . .

b5media is mixing things up this month by creating a “blog scramble”. Bloggers are writing guest posts for fellow b5media bloggers. I was excited that I was matched up with Liz Strauss’ Successful blog. I’m a big fan. And this opportunity gives me a chance to write about a different passion than my usual posts on Business and Blogging.

Happiness and Success
by Liz Fuller

When I’m not blogging or working, I’m pursuing a PhD in organizational psychology. One of my favorite areas of study is positive psychology and the research that has been done by Ed Diener on the linkages between success and happiness.

Now, you may be thinking – big surprise – “people who are successful are happy”.

But wait! The research shows that the order is actually reversed – people who are happy tend to become more successful!!

For the sake of this research, success is defined as having good relationships, good health and earning an above average income!

Researchers are not sure of the reason for the relationship, but it appears that people who are happy tend to draw positive people and experiences to them.

The secret to success then may be to focus first on being happy.

I try to do this by remembering on most days to:

  • take time to be grateful for everything I already have in my life
  • enjoy time with my family and friends
  • give myself a break when it comes to my own faults and foibles
  • listen to music, read for pleasure and watch the sun rise
  • learn something new every day
  • help someone else, even if it is simply taking the time to listen

What about you? What do you do to increase the happiness in your life? Do you think it is possible to consciously make yourself happier? Do you agree that the secret to success in life is to first be happy?

–Liz Fuller writes for Business and Blogging

Thanks, Liz!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Filed Under: Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, guest posts, happiness and success

Comments

  1. SpaceAgeSage says

    April 20, 2008 at 9:42 AM

    My success or happiness seems to be tied to my attitude and my resiliency. Somewhere between perpetually positive Pollyannas and perpetually negative Eeyores is the land of the sane folk who hope for the best, prepare for the worse (but don’t dwell on it)and who know how to roll with the punches. The greatest increase in my happiness and sanity came when I realized I don’t want to “covet control” over things I really can’t control. When I don’t have to “fix” everyone and everything, life is so much less “gloom, despair, and agony on me” (from a song in the Hee Haw television show).

    Reply
  2. ME Liz Strauss says

    April 20, 2008 at 10:01 AM

    Hi SpaceAgeSage,
    Sounds like the best thing you’re controlling is your view of life! 🙂

    I’ve come to the same conclusions. These days I follow my worries with “So how will you act to fix that?” I make it clear to myself that worrying doesn’t help and sometimes makes things worse.

    Reply
  3. steve says

    April 20, 2008 at 2:54 PM

    Hi Liz,
    This is a great post. I had a real bad attitude at an old job last year. When I changed jobs I made a concerted effort to “look on the bright side” no matter how frustrating the situation and it is paying off for me professionally. Stay positive, positive people come to you and good things happen. Negativity is a virus that spreads like a cold.

    Reply
  4. ME Liz Strauss says

    April 20, 2008 at 4:58 PM

    Hi Steve,
    I’ve fallen into that same hole of negativity and had the some result.

    Positive people attract positive people who do positive things which attract more positive people. 🙂

    Reply
  5. sunny says

    April 20, 2008 at 7:47 PM

    Very interesting. I totally agree, since I’ve now discovered (with the exception of an occasional crisis of self-confidence or concern about another)that I’m happy virtually all of the time.

    Reply
  6. ME Liz Strauss says

    April 20, 2008 at 7:56 PM

    Hi Sunny!
    Great to see you!
    It’s great to just decide to be happy. Isn’t it fun?!!!

    Reply
  7. Glenda Watson Hyatt says

    April 20, 2008 at 8:21 PM

    Great post! I so believe in the power of positive thinking. Sometimes it does take some effort, like slapping on a smile when I don’t really feel like it. But, when I am truly in the zone of positive thinking and being grateful, amazing things happen!

    Reply
  8. ME Liz Strauss says

    April 20, 2008 at 8:24 PM

    Hi Glenda!
    Yeah, being positive can be a pain, especially when the world has made you bone tired. But the effort always seems to prove worth it.

    Amazing things do happen. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Barbara Ling (aka Owlbert) says

    April 21, 2008 at 5:36 AM

    I firmly believe everything happens for a reason…and one’s happiness MUST come from inside.

    Think about it – you really can’t control the outside now, can you?

    The only thing within your ability to control is how you choose to react to whatever happens. And if you internalize that everything happens for a reason (even if you’re not aware of it now), you can choose to react positively (and hence, gain happiness) from whatever life throws at you.

    Great article,

    Barbara

    Reply
  10. ME Liz Strauss says

    April 21, 2008 at 6:20 AM

    Hi Barbara!
    It’s a happy person who understands that we make our own happiness, by finding it within us.

    Reply
  11. Laura Spencer says

    April 22, 2008 at 6:02 PM

    Great advice Liz!

    I’m glad that you took part in this project.

    Reply
  12. ME Liz Strauss says

    April 22, 2008 at 6:47 PM

    Thanks, Laura!
    So am I. So am I. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Liz Fuller says

    April 23, 2008 at 11:31 AM

    Hi guys

    Just getting back on the internet after being out of touch due to my cross-country move this weekend. Thanks to Liz for responding to all of the comments.

    I think moving is a prime example of the link between being happy and success. We’re moving to New York City, a place not especially known for it’s warm and friendly people. Yet the last few days have been filled with people smiling at us and welcoming us to our new neighborhood.

    I had a co-worker tell me recently that her parents moved 17 times and each time “the neighbors were nuts”. She said eventually she began to ask herself what the common factor was!! 🙂

    So glad to hear that other people find there’s a cause and effect between happiness and success!

    Liz
    p.s. – thanks again Liz for letting me participate – this was fun!!!

    Reply

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