Big jobs, financial prosperity, or social recognition—these are what society often defines as “success.” But making peace at home, being emotionally connected with our children, and feeling the warmth of our loved ones—these are the cornerstones of happiness.
Are success and happiness connected? Absolutely. Linguistically in Bengali, they both begin with the same consonant. But more than that, they often intertwine in life. Success may pave the way to happiness, but it doesn’t guarantee it.
Think of the daily grind—the noise, the constant hustle, the long hours spent earning money. What’s it all for? If at the end of the day you feel alone, anxious about the future, or lack a reassuring hand on your shoulder, then success hasn’t brought happiness. True happiness begins with inner peace.
For some, money is everything. Others yearn for downtime. Wealth may enable luxury, but luxury doesn’t ensure joy. In Canada, you’ll often see people finding contentment in simplicity—a walk in nature, a cup of Tim’s coffee with a friend, or volunteering at a shelter. Contrast that with someone who, despite their designer home and premium mattress, still can’t sleep at night. What, then, is the real source of happiness?
Imagine having a feast in front of you but being too emotionally distant to share it. There’s nothing more disheartening. We chase success as if it’s the ultimate goal, but what do we prepare for happiness? Is it measured by the size of our house, the title on our business card, or the number of LinkedIn connections we boast?
If happiness had a scent, and we could bottle it, maybe we could tell. But until then, we must look elsewhere. Happiness can be found in the quiet moment of reading a book, listening to a favourite song, travelling through the Rockies, or giving back to others. As many elders say: joy is greater in giving than receiving.
There’s something sacred about storytelling around a dinner table, sharing a child’s joy and sorrow, or being the rock your parents can lean on. That’s a happiness money can’t buy.
The highest form of education may just be the empathy to show up when someone needs you. The person who selflessly supports others during tough times—that’s a healer of hearts. If talking to someone lifts your fog and gives you hope again, they may not just be successful—they are truly happy.
Yes, you can live selfishly. You can measure life only by what you’ve accumulated. But life in a shared world, like our diverse Canadian mosaic, shouldn’t be just about “me.” Being content with less, avoiding blame, and standing firm against injustice—these are the real foundations of happiness.
Success can backfire if it’s earned at the cost of others’ pain—if it’s shadowed by betrayal or burdened with guilt. No achievement, no matter how great, can bring lasting peace if it leaves behind wounded hearts or stolen rights. Sooner or later, the future collects its dues.
Success and happiness are connected—but which matters more? Without a doubt: happiness. History remembers many “successful” individuals whose personal lives were marked by sorrow. Estranged families, misguided children, and troubled minds stripped them of lasting dignity.
To truly understand someone, we must search for the calm within—the still lake beneath the waves. External glitz is easy to fake; true emotional clarity comes through conversation, connection, and shared silence. A smile doesn’t always mean someone is happy. Often, it hides a long, unspoken pain. And sometimes, our busyness is nothing but a frantic attempt to outrun sadness.
So pause. Breathe. Choose happiness—not just success.
