Happiness Is A Skill

Summary

The author emphasizes that happiness is a skill to be learned and practiced, rather than a byproduct of achieving worldly success.

Abstract

The article "Happiness Is A Skill" delves into the misconception that happiness is tied to external achievements such as wealth, success, or recognition. The author reflects on the paradox of individuals who have reached the zenith of their fields yet struggle with misery and self-destructive behaviors. It suggests that the pursuit of being the best does not inherently lead to happiness, as evidenced by the self-destructive tendencies of some highly successful people. Instead, the author advocates for the development of happiness as an independent skill, one that is cultivated through appreciating the small joys in life. The article encourages readers not to settle for mediocrity but to understand that true happiness is not contingent on outward achievements. It posits that if one cannot find happiness in the mundane, the likelihood of finding it in grand accomplishments is slim.

Opinions

Achieving greatness or external success does not guarantee happiness.
Many individuals who are considered the best in their respective fields still suffer from unhappiness.
The pursuit of happiness should not be conflated with the pursuit of excellence or superiority.
Happiness is a practice that requires learning and consistent application, similar to mastering a skill.
The ability to enjoy the small things in life is indicative of one's capacity for happiness.
The article challenges the notion that one must be the best to be happy, suggesting instead that happiness is a separate and more essential pursuit.

Why Mastering Happiness Matters More Than Mastering the World

As I travel further along this journey called Life, I realize that I don’t have to be the greatest, the best, the richest, the most handsome, or the smartest.

Many of the people who have achieved these things, respectively and relatively, were miserable.

You ask yourself, why do these people, sometimes at the pinnacle of their careers or success, either take their lives overtly or gradually with drugs and self-destructive behavior?

But that’s not it — they didn’t get happiness. Being the best didn’t make them happy.

Now, some people would argue that being the best is not about being happy; it’s about being the best.

They can have it.

I’m not saying to settle.

I’m not saying don’t strive for the best.

What I am saying is: don’t think that being the best is going to make you happy.

Happiness is a skill that you learn and practice, and if you can’t be happy with the little things, you’re not going to be happy with the big things.