Introduction
We all know that success is what all kinds of people would like to pursue in their whole life and those people would rather sacrifice many things in order to be successful. However, what is a pity to say is that many people are not clear as for how to measure success and most have used the wrong criterion to measure success. Whenever it comes to the idea that success should be measured by making a lot of money and having great power, a negative voice will always cry out that success should be measured by the amount of happiness one feels. There is no doubt that success should be measured by happiness rather than money or power as long as these three aspects are considered: one who has a lot of money and power but is unhappy is not successful, money and power are just means for people to gain happiness and happiness is a subjective state that can last while money or power is just an objective one.
Success Should be Measured by Happiness rather Than Money or Power
First and foremost, the fact that one who has a lot of money and power but is unhappy is not successful can be used to justify for success should be measured by happiness rather than money or power. To put it more specifically, you may have a lot of money, but you may not be happy. Money definitely cannot buy contentment and inner peace, which are directly proportional to happiness (Frankline, Samuel S. 2010). In order for better illustration, it is added that you may have a lot of money to keep a huge stock of tranquilizers while the irony is that your mind may still be in chaos, which is right why success cannot be equated to money. There is no doubt that money and power are important in this modern-capitalism world and it is hard for people to make a living if they don’t have any money. But making enough money is ok for people to survive in this world. The same case as well goes to power.
Moreover, another aspect that can be used to account for the argument that success should be measured by happiness rather than money or power is that money and power are just means for people to gain happiness (Boehm, Julia K. Lyubomirsky, Sonja. 2008). The common goal in people’s life is to be happy and peaceful and people will search for all kinds of different ways in order to be happy. The longer time people are happy, the more successful they will be. Studies have shown that after a person’s basic needs are met that having more financial success doesn’t affect their sense of self or happiness, which can well indicate that success is related more with happiness but not financial aspect. At the same time, it is further illustrated that to achieve the right level of career accomplishments, money or a great relationship is an effective way to bring happiness (Boehm, Julia K. Lyubomirsky, Sonja. 2008). Based on this, it can be readily detected that factors like career accomplishments, money or a great relationship are all means for happiness and it seems that happiness is the real end goal, which is right why happiness is more appropriate to measure success when compared with money or power.