Contest : What is more important in life – Success or Happiness?

Happiness and success are correlated; there is no way to succeed without experiencing happiness. As simple as it sounds, we must recognize that success brings happiness, while failure often leads to sadness.

I have seen many individuals who have not achieved success still find multiple ways to experience happiness. This brings me to question:

Do you have to succeed before you can be happy?

Or do some hide their sadness and depression behind a smile?

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In this discussion, we need to focus on two key phrases: "Truly" and "society’s eyes." How do we define success? What must a person achieve to be regarded as successful? Some individuals appear to be happy simply because they woke up to a new day. Could that be a success for them?

This leads us to the concept of society’s eyes; success is often defined by wealth, achievements, education, public recognition, and more. A person lacking these traits may struggle to be truly happy, even if minor successes or others’ achievements bring them joy. They may constantly feel a sense of longing, wishing to reach that higher standard.

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I strongly believe that success brings happiness, as I have experienced joy following my achievements. I have observed many instances where people celebrate their successes, but I have yet to see anyone become sad after achieving success; it often manifests as tears of joy.

After years in university, for example, students express their happiness with excitement during their graduation. Their faces light up with joy, showcasing their successful accomplishment. Similarly, in sports, when a player scores a winning goal, immediate happiness is evident as teammates rush to celebrate the victory.

If you are a football fan, you understand the thrill when your favorite player or team scores a goal; you can’t help but join in the celebration and shout “goal.” This demonstrates how success leads to an automatic happiness response.

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I would easily choose a happy life with simple living. The only scenario where I might prefer success would be if the happy life was associated with suffering. We often observe that excessive wealth or success does not guarantee happiness, and many successful individuals struggle to find joy.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a famous footballer, once shared that he no longer has private time due to his fame and success. His public life has negatively impacted his personal life. For instance, when he went to a café for coffee, he was swarmed by fans eager to take photos and videos, which made him feel uncomfortable and insecure, prompting him to leave.

While we admire his success and fame, he sometimes wishes he could trade that for a more low-key lifestyle. He enjoys his accomplishments but yearns for the ability to take a peaceful family vacation or enjoy unbothered private time like others can.

I choose a happy and simple life because it is free from stress and problems.

I would like to invite my friends @davidmarkgeorge, @kwinberry, and @us-andrew to join this discussion.

Cc, @alfazmalek