What will it take for you to be happy and feel fulfilled? Have you ever felt so determined to accomplish something that you lose track of your own happiness? I have. Happiness should be a top objective in our personal and career planning.
Everything today seems to be focused on results. Results are key, but how we obtain them affects our own personal being. Without consideration around how obtaining results contributes to our human needs we run fast toward the finish line with high expectations of achievement that may or may not present themselves as the desired result.
I learned about opportunity cost in my college economics class. Opportunity cost is what one gives up in making choices. If I choose A, then I lose B and there is a cost to that. Translated to career endeavors; if I choose not to retool my Cobol skills because I am gainfully employed, and I lose my job in the future, I will have difficulty in finding another Cobol position. In life, if I choose to put off my desire to create a travel blog for the sake of a career endeavor that may not suit my fancy, but is a paycheck, I will most likely not have the time for my travel blog pursuits. Think of an example in your own world. Then ask yourself, “Are my pursuits driving happiness”? How do you define happiness?
Each one of us defines happiness in an individual way. For some, it could be, career advancement, others helping people, others money and things, and others time for themselves. Happiness is the result of fulfilling our human needs. There are six human needs that Tony Robbins outlines as consistent amongst everyone: Certainty, Variety, Significance, Growth, Love & Connection, and Contribution. Everyone, in everything we do has these needs and has an affinity toward a top two that may fluctuate based upon one’s life stage. Are you living a life of happiness and fulfillment? What needs are prevalent in your life? Where are the gaps in your life that you would like to fill? Ask yourself these questions as it is your personal response that will help you to fill the gaps with true happiness.