Here's something you probably knew but seems counterintuitive ... Happiness brings success -- not the other way around, at least according to researchers and scientists who study happiness.
"We've learned in 10 years that happy people are more productive at work, learn more in school, get promoted more, are more creative and are liked more," said Martin Seligman, then-president of the American Psychological Association, and founder of the positive psychology movement.
And while success and materialism are great, it doesn't necessarily contribute to happiness.
"Many of us have material things and our basic needs met, so we are looking for what comes after that," says Ed Diener, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois and co-author with his son, Robert Biswas-Diener, of the forthcoming "Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth." "Materialism isn't bad. It's only bad if we use it to replace other things in life like meaningful work, a good marriage, kids and friends. People are recognizing that those who make money more important than love have lower levels of life satisfaction."
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So, of course, this leads to the question, what makes you happy? Is it success? Spending time with family and friends? Solitude? Something else?
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