Why Chasing Success Before Happiness is a Mistake: The Science Behind The Happiness Advantage

For decades, society has told us to work hard, achieve success, and then allow ourselves to be happy. But what if this widely accepted sequence is backwards? The Happiness Advantage presents compelling scientific evidence that happiness actually fuels success, reshaping how we think about achievement and well-being.

Positive emotions broaden our cognitive abilities, enabling us to think more creatively and solve problems more effectively. Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin released during happy states improve memory and learning capacity. This means that happiness literally rewires our brains for greater performance.

One striking example comes from a study of nuns whose early writings were analyzed for emotional content. Those who expressed more positive emotions lived significantly longer, demonstrating the physical and mental health benefits of happiness.

The Pygmalion Effect further illustrates how expectations shape outcomes. Students perform better when teachers believe in their potential, showing the power of mindset and belief in driving success. Similarly, people’s social environments profoundly influence their happiness and health, with strong social bonds linked to lower mortality rates and improved mental resilience.

Moreover, the book explains how habitual focus shapes perception through the Tetris Effect. Our brains form mental patterns based on what we repeatedly attend to, meaning that training ourselves to notice positive cues can transform our experience.

By flipping the traditional narrative and prioritizing happiness first, we tap into a powerful advantage that enhances every aspect of life—from work performance to relationships to health.

Practical strategies include cultivating gratitude, reframing failures as growth opportunities, setting small achievable goals, and investing in meaningful relationships. These approaches are not just feel-good advice but grounded in rigorous research.

Understanding the science behind The Happiness Advantage empowers us to make intentional choices that promote well-being and success. It invites us to embrace happiness as a work ethic—a daily practice that shapes our brain, behavior, and ultimately our destiny.

References: This article integrates findings from The Happiness Advantage and authoritative sources including Samuel Thomas Davies, Blinkist, Amazon, and LinkedIn. 1 2 3 4