Work can contribute to happiness , but not in the way people often think. Many believe that worldly success—measured by money, power, or job titles—automatically leads to happiness, but this is not true. Worldly success helps eliminate sources of unhappiness , like financial insecurity , but it does not create happiness by itself. True happiness from work comes from two key factors : " earned success " and "service to others."
Earned success is the feeling that one's work creates value and is acknowledged by others. This is the opposite of "learned helplessness," a condition where individuals feel their efforts do not matter, leading to depression and loneliness . Managers play an important role in helping employees achieve earned success by recognizing their contributions .
The second factor is service to others. This means that individuals need to feel their work helps others and lightens their load . Research shows that the specific job people do matters less than how they feel about the impact of their work. For instance, even small actions like getting coffee for coworkers can increase job satisfaction. Ultimately, work becomes fulfilling when it combines earned success, serving others, and doing something one is good at.
Vocabulary :
• happiness (noun): the feeling of being happy.
• success (noun): achieving something you have worked hard for.
• admiration (noun): the feeling of respecting and liking someone.
• learned helplessness (noun): a state where someone feels powerless because their actions do not seem to matter.
• meritocracy (noun): a system where people get rewarded based on their skills and achievements .
• loneliness (noun): the feeling of being alone and not having friends or people to talk to.
• depression (noun): a medical condition that makes you feel extremely sad and hopeless .