Success and Happiness, why it’s never what you expected.

Three years ago, I could tell you exactly what I wanted. I wanted a house, a family and enough money to not worry about money. But somewhere along the way that changed. I think meeting different people and having different experiences really added something extra which previously I had not given much thought.  

I wanted success.  

There began a journey into chasing success that had taken me to the point where I reflected. I was comfortable where I was, why was it I not fulfilled though? I think the answer was simple, I spoke to a successful friend of mine who was easily making large amounts of money and one particular thing he said really impacted me “Look at this amount I’ve made today, I feel nothing”. Here was someone who I felt had achieved success, cliche I know, but he was telling the truth, it was there I realised what I had been doing wrong.  

I had lost passion.

I didn’t see myself being passionate about anything I was working on, I looked to the future and could not see myself happy doing any of the projects I was working on currently at that time. That was my issue and is the reason why I decided to work on things that have impact, the chase to attain money and status is meaningless. So I went full circle, having money and status is great but you need to be happy about it, in the end money is just a byproduct of success not the reason for it.  

I’m interested to hear what others think and their thoughts and perspectives as I don't really think their is 'right answer' to all of these thoughts.