Ever met someone who has it all. Money, status, achievements, but still seems unhappy? It’s weird, right? We spend our whole lives chasing success, thinking it’ll bring happiness, yet so many successful people feel empty. Why?
Let’s talk about it.
- We’re Taught That Success = Happiness
Since childhood, we’ve been told that the formula for a good life is simple.
✔ Study hard → ✔ Get a good job → ✔ Make money → ✔ Be happy.
But reality? It’s not that straightforward. Success might give you comfort, but comfort isn’t the same as happiness. You can have all the money in the world and still feel like something’s missing.
- The “Next Goal” Trap
Have you ever set a big goal, worked hard for it, and felt amazing when you finally achieved it, only for that feeling to fade in days? Then you set another goal. And another. That’s the cycle.
Success feels good for a moment, but if we tie our happiness only to achievements, we’ll always be chasing the next thing, never truly satisfied.
- Success Can Cost You What Actually Makes You Happy
▪️ Long hours at work = Less time with family and friends.
▪️ Constant pressure = Mental and physical exhaustion.
▪️ The need to “prove yourself” = Losing sight of what you actually love.
What’s the point of success if it takes away the things that make life worth living?
- We Care Too Much About What Others Think
Be honest, How much of what you’re working toward is because you want it, and how much is because society expects it? We chase certain careers, buy expensive things, and push ourselves harder not because it makes us happy, but because we think it will impress others.
And in that process, we forget to ask ourselves, What do I actually want?
So, What’s the Answer?
Success isn’t bad. Working hard isn’t bad. But chasing success without understanding what truly makes you happy? That’s dangerous.
Here’s the truth:
▪️ Happiness isn’t a goal, it’s a daily choice.
▪️ Success should support your happiness, not replace it.
▪️ Sometimes, slowing down and appreciating life brings more joy than reaching the next milestone.
So, ask yourself. Are you chasing success because it excites you, or because you think it should?
Because at the end of the day, success without happiness isn’t success at all.
Words by Matheesha Prathapa
(“Not all victories feel like winning, and not all achievements bring joy. The real success is finding both.”)