Good Evening ,

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” 

– Jim Carrey 

The comedic genius, Jim Carrey grew up homeless before finding massive success in Hollywood as an actor. His quote brings up a set of reflective questions. 

How do you find happiness in a world that’s never satisfied regardless of the results you produce?

I am a high achiever, but still struggle to be happy or fulfilled regardless of my productivity. How can this be?

Leaders like ourselves believe that happiness is experienced by achieving certain goals, finding our soulmate, being promoted, making a higher salary, taking a luxurious vacation- these are often milestones that we associate happiness with. We conquer one milestone and immediately set our sights on the next one.

I remember wanting to lose 75 lbs. I believed that I would be satisfied with myself if I lost the weight and was skinnier. Guess what? I lost the weight, but then realized I had loose skin around my midsection, and found myself no longer happy with the goal I had achieved. So, I had the loose skin removed. But then I found myself constantly comparing my body to the images on social media- again, I’d conquer one milestone and immediately move to the next. "Comparison is the thief of joy."- Theodore Roosevelt 

Many of my clients say that if they made more money, they would be more fulfilled and happier with their lives. Consider this insight from Psychology Today “...the sweet spot for yearly income is between $60,000 and $95,000 a year, not a million-dollar salary. Earnings above $95,000 do not equate to increased well-being; a person earning $150,000 a year will not necesarrily be as happy as a person earning a lot less." 

So, how do you find happiness in a world that’s never satisfied regardless of the results you produce?

Pay attention to what you are doing when you experience fulfillment and happiness. Notice who’s with you. Where are you? What are you doing? Take notes. Do the inverse as well. Pay attention to your surroundings when you are feeling depleted of your joy and happiness. The answer to your happiness is already within. You just have to pay attention.

Make choices that consciously align with your well-being. Say “YES!” more of the time to the opportunities that bring you true joy. Time out on the obligatory “yes” for the sake of keeping false peace. 

Turn the volume up on the voice that matters, yours! You are worth it.