Redefine Happiness: Embrace Solitude and Failure for Lasting Joy

What if everything you've been told about happiness is a lie? Join Fabio on Journey to Success as we challenge the conventional wisdom that ties happiness strictly to external achievements like career success, wealth, or social status. Drawing from groundbreaking research at Princeton and Cornell Universities, we explore the surprising power of experiences and personal growth in cultivating lasting joy. Fabio takes a deep dive into the intriguing concept of finding happiness through failure and solitude, offering an opportunity to rethink what truly matters in life.

This episode promises to open your eyes to new perspectives on achieving a fulfilling life by valuing experiences over possessions and embracing the lessons that come with failure. You'll discover how solitude can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and clarity, even in a world that often overlooks its importance. Whether it's the joy found in shared moments with loved ones or the peace in quiet reflection, Fabio's insights are sure to inspire a shift in how you pursue happiness. Don't miss this thought-provoking journey that reveals the unconventional keys to a richer, more meaningful life.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:26

What if I told you that everything you've been told about happiness is wrong? Imagine, guys, imagine if you all those ideas we grew up with you know that happiness comes from things like success, money or even relationships are just part of the story. This question has fascinated researchers for years. This question has fascinated researchers for years, and studies are beginning to show that what we think makes us happy might not work the way we expect. So in today's episode of Journey to Success, let's dive deep into some unconventional wisdom about happiness that might surprise you. Hi guys, my name is Fabio from Journey to Success, and welcome.

Speaker 1: 1:18

Today we're going to talk about happiness, but in a way you might not expect, if you think about it right, it is always the same script. They told us Work hard, get a job, get a good job, actually earn a lot of money and everything will fall, you know, into place. Everything is going to be right. But I mean, what if that's not really true? Think about it right. We often hear that happiness depends on external things like career success or wealth, and I mean, don't get me wrong. Those things can bring comfort and joy. We like these things, but not the full picture. They're not the whole picture. They're not the whole picture. So today we're going to dig into some ideas that might sound unusual or even go against what we usually hear. Sometimes, questioning these norms and trying something different can help us find real, lasting happiness. So let's see how, but, of course, as always, before to go forward, please subscribe, so I know this is the right direction to drive you, lead you, guide you towards your journey to success, as always. And let's start. All right, let's start as always.

Speaker 1: 2:47

So let's talk about some common beliefs around happiness. All right, a lot of people think happiness is closely tied to things like status, money or having the perfect life, but there is a research suggesting this approach can lead to disappointment. To be precise, a famous study from Princeton University found that, while money can boost happiness to a certain point, it doesn't keep increasing it. In fact, once your basic needs are met, more money doesn't lead to much more happiness. Another belief is that status and achievements will make us feel fulfilled. So many people who have reached incredible success, whether in business, sports or the arts, say they still felt empty inside after reaching their goals. Reaching their goals, these ideas you know, the idea that morning status equals happiness often create a cycle of dissatisfaction, because we start chasing the next thing, we feel like we're always missing something or like that we need to work harder for the next step. This creates a lot of stress and in the end it's not a sure path to happiness not at all. So now let's dive into some ideas that might sound unusual but have helped many people find real happiness.

Speaker 1: 4:34

So first let's talk about the importance of failure. You know I love failure. We talked in the previous episode as well, mr Failure and Mrs Comfort Zone. So we're often told that success is everything right and failure is something to avoid. But think about it Every failure teaches us something, even if it's just about resilience. Some of the most successful people out there if you think about inventors or athletes say that they learn the most from their failures. Embracing failure can actually make us feel more fulfilled because it shows us how much we are growing.

Speaker 1: 5:20

Next, let's look at the idea of valuing experiences over possessions. So there is a well-known study from Cornell University showing that people get more long-term happiness from experiences like travel, you know, or be with friends, be with family, instead of buying things. Possessions might bring joy at first, for sure, but it fades quickly. But it fades quickly. Experiences, on the other hand, give us memories and stories that we can look back and we feel happy about for years. You know when you do a vacation or when you are with some friend on the table and you tell with each other some nice story. So prioritizing experiences over material things can bring a type of happiness that can be in our mind forever.

Speaker 1: 6:23

Another important idea is the power of solitude. I know, sounds weird, sounds strange, but being alone from time to time is actually healthy and can boost our happiness. Studies suggest that taking time to reflect and be with our own thoughts helps us understand what we really want in life. So this time alone, away from social media or busy schedules, can give us clarity and peace. So we have these three big ideas embracing failures, valuing experiences and finding time for solitude. These are not the typical pieces of advice we hear, but they can help us reach us, let's say, a deeper, more lasting happiness than simply chasing success, money or material things. Ok, now here's something that might surprise you the most. One of the most weird pieces of advice I've come across is this Sometimes the key to happiness is lowering our expectations.

Speaker 1: 7:33

Okay, just a moment. Yeah, I mean this may sound negative, I know that, but psychologists have found that when people constantly set very high expectations for what will make them happy, they often end up disappointed. For example, if you believe that only a certain salary, a particular car or a big house will make you happy, you might feel let down when these things don't bring as much joy as you expected. So, instead, lowering expectations doesn't mean aiming low, right? I mean, guys, we're talking about a journey to success. We are here to dream, to dream big. That's what I wish for you, that's what I wish for you. But at the same time, you have to appreciate the good things, the things you already have.

Speaker 1: 8:35

Studies show that gratitude, you know, being thankful for what we already have, leads to more happiness than always chasing for the next big thing. So by lowering expectations, in this sense, we can find joy in small moments in everyday life and in things we might normally overlook. Okay, this sounds, let's say, weird as I say it, but at the same time, doesn't mean we don't try to improve or have goals especially okay. It just means that we stop putting so much pressure on those goals to bring us happiness. So happiness can be in the present moment, and it's often about finding value in the small, simple things around us.

Speaker 1: 9:32

Now just to summarize. All right, so let's recap a little bit about what we have talked about today. We have challenged some common beliefs about happiness. That's what we did. So, you know, like the idea that money and success will automatically lead to fulfillment, but we have looked at alternative paths to happiness, like learning from failure, focusing on experiences rather than things, than material things, and embracing solitude. And, most importantly, we explored the surprising idea of finding happiness by lowering our expectations and practicing gratitude for the present. The main takeaway here is that happiness doesn't always follow the rules society sets. Sometimes, the path to true happiness requires us to think differently, in a different way, to step away from the conventional and try a new approach.

Speaker 1: 10:36

All right, now I would love to hear from you guys, as always. Now I would love to hear from you guys, as always. Do you have any unconventional advice or personal experiences about happiness? Maybe you have tried one of these ideas already, or maybe you have your own unique take. Share it in the comments below, because your story might inspire someone else. And also, if you enjoyed today's episode, think about sharing it with someone who could use it for a fresh look at happiness. Your support means a lot to me. You know that, and while following and subscribing is great, I think spreading these ideas can have a bigger impact. Thank you so much for joining me today on Journey to Success. Remember, happiness is a journey and sometimes the most surprising paths are the ones that lead us there. Cheers.