Following Kevin’s Fun With Statistics series, I’ll be doing a Fun With The 2×2 Matrix series. In this part of the series, we’ll be looking at the dynamic between Success and Happiness.
Most variables in life can probably be better modeled as a function, showing th inflection point at which there might be too much of a thing, or where too much of a thing results in a decline of another equally important variable. But, the 2×2 Matrix can also be useful and descriptive.
Happiness versus Success
Is it true that the more successful you the happier you are? Let’s take a look:
Hansei
Like most people — perhaps — I’ve found myself occupying all the cells at certain points in my life. As a whole, though — which I find troubling — is that I usually feel that I’m in the upper-left quadrant or bottom-right. It’s dichotomous, I know; which is why I’m troubled by that discovery.
I’m told that most successful people inwardly feel that they are in the upper-left quadrant. I’m not sure if I buy into that completely.
Where do you find yourself? Do you see a dynamic in your life between success and happiness?
Now that my husband and I have taken early retirement – read being less than a success to the companies we worked for, we are much farther to the right in the happiness zone. Mike’s stopped needing blood pressure medication. I’ve stopped needing some of my stomach meds. But maybe that also means we’ve changed our criteria for “success” and have moved up on that scale too.
Is it odd to find yourself smack on the cross of the matrix? I am happy and successful. I think I can be more happy and more successful. I am slightly frustrated, and at the same time I am learning to be happy with what I have. As soon as I think, “Am I more happy than successful?” I am immediately countered with, “Am I more successful than I am happy?”. I believe I’m centered right in the middle. And as I said, I’m learning to be happy with what I have, so I guess I like being there. I hope and plan to move more to the upper right, but as long as I’m not moving bottom left I’m happy.