Stop Being So Happy
Maybe the Rolling Stones were onto something with their song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. We say that because a new study shows not getting satisfaction is good!
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This study, called The Optimum Level of Well-Being: Can People Be Too Happy?, was recently published in Perspective on Psychological Science. Participants rated their happiness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most happy. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that happy people tend to:
- stay married longer
- be healthier
- volunteer more often
- get more favorable reviews at work
- make more money
But the researchers also found that people who rated their happiness level at 10 made significantly less money than those with a happiness level of 8 or 9.
So today, we’ll offer three reasons why less happy people make more money.
#1 – Less happy people respond to changes.
If you’re too happy, you don’t adopt new technologies, new strategies, or new approaches. You’re just fine with the way things are! The problem is that things are changing faster than ever. It’s easy to fall behind.
#2 – Less happy people look for an edge.
When you move past what you know to what you don’t know, you grow personally. That’s what makes life meaningful. So they constantly test their limits, and continually improve, because they’re most comfortable on the edge of their comfort zone.
#3 – Less happy people ask, “What’s next?”
When they reach a goal, they celebrate. They should … they’ve earned it! But then, they set another goal. They look for the next highest mountain to climb. The glory comes from being on top, but the challenge of getting there is the fun part!
How do you get your appetite back?
Think back to when you were first starting out in your career. Do you remember how hungry you were? We don’t mean physically hungry, although that may apply, too! We mean hungry for knowledge, for growth, and for opportunity.
Can you go back to that time in your mind? Can you visualize it as if it were happening right now? That’s where you start – 8 visualize it] using ALL of your senses.
Now, with that same sense of hunger, answer this question:
What is one thing that you haven’t already done, but really want to do?
Visualize it, using all your senses. Keep visualizing it until you’re as hungry for this endeavor as you were when you first got started.
Take yourself to another level – for some of you, this may be a level you never thought you would achieve. Congratulations! You’re ready to go for it!
Our BIGG quote today comes from Thomas Edison, who said,
“We shall have no better conditions in the future
if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present.”
So don’t worry … be happy! Just don’t be content.
Next time, we’ll ask, “Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?” It’s all about multi-tasking. Until then, here’s to your BIGG success!
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Why Entrepreneurs Should Not Be Too Happy
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