Success and happiness… okay see honestly, these two things have caused more arguments than even rice and beans vs jollof, So People love to assume that once you are successful, happiness will just automatically follow you like Bluetooth connection, But personally, I don’t believe that at all in any way.
So yes, success is sweet o, don’t get me wrong, It gives you ginger, it boosts your confidence, it makes you feel like, “Yes, I tried, I did this.” But then happiness? That one is a whole different ball game, Happiness comes from peace of mind, from contentment, from being in a place where your heart genuinely feels settled, and trust me, success alone cannot buy that.
I have actually achieved a few things in my life that people looked at and said, “Wah! You must be so happy.” But me that did it, I was just there like, “Yeah, I’m grateful, but happy? Not really.” It’s not like I wasn’t proud of myself , of course I was but sometimes you can hit a goal and still feel empty inside, Sometimes you will look around like, Okay, I have done it… so why don’t I feel the excitement everyone else is expecting from me?
I think the problem is that society has tied the meaning of happiness to achievements, If you pass your exams be happy, If you get a new job, be happy, If you make money be happy, If you buy a car, be happy, they forget that you can accomplish all these things and still feel tired, overwhelmed, confused, or just not emotionally okay, and that is perfectly normal, we are humans, not robots.
There was a time I finished something major, something I had been working towards for months, People were congratulating me left, right, centre, My phone wanted to burst, but deep down, I wasn’t feeling that joy people assumed I had, I was relieved, yes, I was proud of myself, yes, But I wasn’t happy, Maybe because I was exhausted, maybe because the journey drained me mentally, maybe because I expected the achievement to magically fix everything else happening in my life, but it didn’t.
That is when I realized that success gives morale, it makes you stand taller, it adds confidence, but it does not automatically give happiness, Happiness requires more, Happiness is peace, comfort, good relationships, emotional balance, good health, and that inner calm that comes from knowing you are okay, even without all the achievements, Infact Happiness is God himself, you cannot say you are happy and not have God, cause God is the main provider of Happiness.
I feel like success is something you can work your way into, but then happiness is something you have to build intentionally with God by your side, you know you can climb the highest mountain, get the certificate, carry the award, secure the dream job, or hit the highest milestone, but if your heart is not at peace, you will still surely feel empty.
So for me, happiness does comes from the little things, good food, good rest, also good people, and a peaceful mind, success can make life easier, but happiness makes life meaningful cause you have backing from God.
So no, success does not just equal happiness in any way , they look similar from afar, but they are not the same thing at all.
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