The day puts the spotlight on happiness. The United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness since 2013, to show the way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.
“Be Mindful, Be Grateful, Be Kind” is the theme of International Day of Happiness 2023. Happiness is basically one of the most important human goals. The United Nations General Assembly recognizes this goal and calls for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.”
Revealing that there is brightness amid the darkness, was the 10th annual World Happiness Report 2022. The pandemic had swept in anguish and suffering, but it also resulted in a rise in social support and benevolence.
Connecting happiness and business, starting a business means people may not always get rich, but it does make plenty of people happy. And, despite failure, long work hours, low income, high stress levels and a host of other problems, entrepreneurs report consistently higher rates of happiness! In fact, all those problems do take away a lot from entrepreneurs’ happiness, but the positives of running a business are so strong that they outweigh the negatives!!
Is happiness a search for real meaning?
Research on entrepreneurship have focused on ‘autonomy’ as the key driver of happiness for entrepreneurs. You are totally in charge, you take decisions, and you decide how to spend your time.
But in a recent study, it was revealed that autonomy alone wasn’t just enough. It’s top-of- mind, for sure, but what entrepreneurs need, above all, is meaning. Does work bring in both a sense of meaning and autonomy? Or it is a chasing success all the way.
So, you can say success, whatever it means, is not the goal. Happiness is the goal. Actually, we may see happiness is really a choice, more than a goal. You can choose to be happy right away.
How can happiness connect with entrepreneurship? They can be in several ways:
• Pursuing a passion: Entrepreneurship does involves pursuing a passion, whether it be a product, service, or idea. If you’re doing something you love, you’re more likely to feel fulfilled and satisfied with your work, which can lead to greater happiness.
• Autonomy and control: As an entrepreneur, it’s true that you have more control over your work and your life. This can lead to a greater sense of autonomy, which has been shown to increase happiness.
• Sense of purpose: As they are working towards a goal that they believe in, entrepreneurs often feel a sense of purpose and meaning in their work. This can contribute to a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment.
• Financial rewards: While money doesn’t always lead to happiness, financial stability and success can certainly contribute to a greater sense of well-being. Entrepreneurship can provide opportunities for financial growth and success.
Overall, entrepreneurship can offer many benefits which can add a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment. However, it’s critical to note that entrepreneurship can also be stressful and challenging. And, it’s not necessarily a guaranteed path to happiness. The secret is to find a balance between pursuing your goals and taking care of your mental and emotional health too.
Ultimately, if you’ve overcome all the obstacles and managed to achieve happiness as an entrepreneur, should you show it?
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
