Why Happiness Is the Key to Success—And Not the Reverse

The theologian and philosopher Albert Schweitzer said “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” We couldn’t have phrased it better ourselves!
There are many reasons why scientists, journalists, and even CEOs are starting to come around to this idea, but it can be summarized as such:
When our work makes us feel good, we are more likely to invest time and effort in it. And, as you already know, you have to work hard to be successful. What if you took all of the effort you spent forcing yourself to do work you dislike and replaced it with the motivation you have to do the things you love? The end result would be very different!
Studies show happiness has a statistically positive effect on all aspects of business, from sales to productivity to quality of work. In short, the happier you are, the better you are at what you do. It makes business sense and it’s a more human approach to work. What a beautiful thing!
How can you increase your happiness and prime yourself for more success?
Stay fit and healthy.
When our bodies feel good, so do our minds. Regular exercise has been shown time and again to boost happiness by leaps and bounds.
Keep a positive outlook.
When you find yourself dwelling on the negative, try to see the silver lining. The more we train ourselves to see what’s good, the more we’ll have to feel happy about.
Let gratitude be your guide.
Saying “thank you” makes the other person feel good, but did you know it can also make you happier? Tune in to all that you’re grateful for and express it freely—you’ll not only feel happier, but you’ll pay your happiness forward, too.