--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Happiness is the joy we feel striving…" description: "\"Happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential.\" — Shawn Achor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png" --- # Happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential. ![“Happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential.” quote by Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png) > “Happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential.” [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness arises from pursuing growth and fulfilling potential. **In simple terms:** Happiness comes from striving toward potential. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth for lasting joy. Themes growth potential joy Mood optimistic encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career development - education - personal projects - fitness goals Key Concepts psychology self‑improvement motivation Questions to Reflect On - What personal potential are you currently pursuing? - How can you celebrate progress along the way? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on potential may cause stress if goals are unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ## Related quotes > [The way we define happiness is the joy you feel striving toward your potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-way-we-define-happiness-is-the-joy-you-feel-striving-toward-your/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [“I envision a world in which the vast majority of us are actively striving toward our potential as human beings by spending our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matakas/i-envision-a-world-in-which-the-vast-majority-of-us-are-actively/) [Chris Matakas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matakas/) > [In the younger ages, maybe you can rely more on your talent, but when you get older, you see that when you combine it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/in-the-younger-ages-maybe-you-can-rely-more-on-your-talent-but-when/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [“Exciting happiness is joy, celebration, travelling, being in bed with a woman you desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/exciting-happiness-is-joy-celebration-travelling-being-in-bed-with-a/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [The real thing is that sweet joy you feel when you're in the midst of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/the-real-thing-is-that-sweet-joy-you-feel-when-you-re-in-the-midst-of/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [“We believe that whatever feels at first like joy is not. Or is, but will not last. Or should not last. We feel so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anneli-rufus/we-believe-that-whatever-feels-at-first-like-joy-is-not-or-is-but/) [Anneli Rufus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anneli-rufus/) > [My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/my-dear-brothers-and-sisters-the-joy-we-feel-has-little-to-do-with/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [I like winning. There's also a certain joy in it. I feel fulfilled by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-icahn/i-like-winning-there-s-also-a-certain-joy-in-it-i-feel-fulfilled-by-it/) [Carl Icahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-icahn/) > [I believe God, through His Spirit, grants us love, joy, and peace no matter what is happening in our lives. As Christians, we shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-briscoe/i-believe-god-through-his-spirit-grants-us-love-joy-and-peace-no/) [Jill Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-briscoe/) > [This joy you feel is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/this-joy-you-feel-is-life/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [ I have put my whole soul into this work \[The Pathetique Symphony\] . . . You cannot imagine what joy I feel at the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky/i-have-put-my-whole-soul-into-this-work-the-pathetique-symphony-you/) [Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky/) > [“With a highly developed attitude of gratitude, we truly multiply how much love and joy we feel towards everyone we have known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mirdad/with-a-highly-developed-attitude-of-gratitude-we-truly-multiply-how/) Michael Mirdad > [What a joy it is to feel the soft, springy earth under my feet once more, to follow grassy roads that lead to ferny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/what-a-joy-it-is-to-feel-the-soft-springy-earth-under-my-feet-once/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“I hear you, but it's not the process you should focus on; it's the joy you will feel after you go through the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-hear-you-but-it-s-not-the-process-you-should-focus-on-it-s-the-joy/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [Joy is the response of a lover receiving what he loves. This is the joy we feel when skiing powder… This overflowing gratitude is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-lachapelle/joy-is-the-response-of-a-lover-receiving-what-he-loves-this-is-the/) [Dolores LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-lachapelle/) ## More by Shawn Achor > [Joy is something you can experience even when life is not pleasurable. Even in the midst of a long run, when your legs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/joy-is-something-you-can-experience-even-when-life-is-not-pleasurable/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Our daily decisions and habits have a huge impact upon both our levels of happiness and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/our-daily-decisions-and-habits-have-a-huge-impact-upon-both-our/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Beliefs are so powerful because they dictate our efforts and actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/beliefs-are-so-powerful-because-they-dictate-our-efforts-and-actions/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Happiness is the precursor to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-precursor-to-success/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Positive and engaged brains are a company's greatest assets. More than time and even more than productivity, people must be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/positive-and-engaged-brains-are-a-company-s-greatest-assets-more-than/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The idea of investing in the positivity of employees is often low down on companies' priority lists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-idea-of-investing-in-the-positivity-of-employees-is-often-low/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [We not only need to work happy, we need to work at being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/we-not-only-need-to-work-happy-we-need-to-work-at-being-happy/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [..the more you believe in your own ability to success the more likely it is that you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-more-you-believe-in-your-own-ability-to-success-the-more-likely/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Focusing on the good isn’t just about overcoming our inner grump to see the glass half full. It’s about opening our minds to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/focusing-on-the-good-isn-t-just-about-overcoming-our-inner-grump-to/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Happiness is not the belief that we don't need to change; it's the realization that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-not-the-belief-that-we-don-t-need-to-change-it-s-the/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [We sometimes think that the best doctors are the ones who have the most specialized knowledge or the fanciest degrees, but in fact, study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/we-sometimes-think-that-the-best-doctors-are-the-ones-who-have-the/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Research shows you get multiple tasks done faster if you do them one at a time. It also decreases stress and raises happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/research-shows-you-get-multiple-tasks-done-faster-if-you-do-them-one/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The research says that being successful doesn't automatically make you happier, but being happier - being more positive - makes you more successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/the-research-says-that-being-successful-doesn-t-automatically-make/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [Spend two minutes a day scanning the world for three new things you're grateful for. And do that for 21 days, The reason why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/spend-two-minutes-a-day-scanning-the-world-for-three-new-things-you/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [“Neuroscientists have found that financial losses are actually processed in the same areas of the brain that respond to mortal danger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/neuroscientists-have-found-that-financial-losses-are-actually/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) [Explore all 96 Shawn Achor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shawn Achor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-after-our-potential/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-after-our-potential/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/shawn-achor-6891_feel_happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-af_2437883.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential.” — Shawn Achor", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shawn Achor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Happiness is the joy we feel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-after-our-potential/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-the-joy-we-feel-striving-after-our-potential/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```