--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most people keep waiting on happiness…" description: "\"Most people keep waiting on happiness, putting off happiness until they're successful or until they achieve some goal, which means we limit both happin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/shawn-achor-6891_achieve_most-people-keep-waiting-on-happiness-pu_1582016.png" --- # Most people keep waiting on happiness, putting off… ![“Most people keep waiting on happiness, putting off happiness until they're successful or until they achieve some goal, which means we limit both happiness and success. That formula doesn't work.” quote by Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/shawn-achor-6891_achieve_most-people-keep-waiting-on-happiness-pu_1582016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/shawn-achor-6891_achieve_most-people-keep-waiting-on-happiness-pu_1582016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f0/shawn-achor-6891_achieve_most-people-keep-waiting-on-happiness-pu_1582016.png) > “Most people keep waiting on happiness, putting off happiness until they're successful or until they achieve some goal, which means we limit both happiness and success. That formula doesn't work.” [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. Chasing happiness after success limits both; success and happiness; they should be pursued together. **In simple terms:** Waiting for success to feel happy limits both. Key Takeaway Seek happiness now, not later. Themes happiness success mindset Mood positive reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - daily habits - relationship building Key Concepts positive psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What small joy can you practice today? - How can happiness boost performance? A Different Perspective Success without happiness can feel hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness and success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-and-success/) [Happiness Putting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-putting-4975841/) [Happiness Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-success-394011/) [Happiness Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-successful-2255284/) [Limit Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit-happiness-878563/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Putting Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putting-happiness-3720434/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [Too many people limit their happiness and success by assuming that taking time off from work will send a negative message to their manager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/too-many-people-limit-their-happiness-and-success-by-assuming-that/) [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/) > [Whether they 'lean into' career, family, or both, let's not underestimate the wisdom of women to define happiness and success for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/whether-they-lean-into-career-family-or-both-let-s-not-underestimate/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [How easy to be amiable in the midst of happiness and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/how-easy-to-be-amiable-in-the-midst-of-happiness-and-success/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [BE faithfuLl at eVerythiNg yOu dO,because with faithfullnesS comEs happineSs AnD suCCeSS iN liFe...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-faithfull-at-everything-you-do-because-with-faithfullness-comes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your ability to get along well with others will determine your happiness and success as much as any other factor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-ability-to-get-along-well-with-others-will-determine-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [A woman who knows her power has in her hands the key to her own happiness and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raffaella-barker/a-woman-who-knows-her-power-has-in-her-hands-the-key-to-her-own/) [Raffaella Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raffaella-barker/) > [The formula of happiness and success is just, being actually yourself, in the most vivid possible way you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-formula-of-happiness-and-success-is-just-being-actually-yourself/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Happiness and success in life are not the result of what we have, but rather of how we live. What we do with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/happiness-and-success-in-life-are-not-the-result-of-what-we-have-but/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Short-term discomfort and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to long-term happiness and success. Find the strength to keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/short-term-discomfort-and-failure-are-two-of-the-surest-stepping/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Serve others. The failing recipe for happiness and success is to want the good of others." "happiness is when I see others happy. Happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/serve-others-the-failing-recipe-for-happiness-and-success-is-to-want/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Fun opens the doors to creativity, which then leads to inspiration, which then births passion, which all together equals both happiness and success!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachele-brooke-smith/fun-opens-the-doors-to-creativity-which-then-leads-to-inspiration/) [Rachele Brooke Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachele-brooke-smith/) > [“Happiness and success are not something that we can attain or possibly loose, but rather inside qualities that we have forgotten about during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-gyarmati/happiness-and-success-are-not-something-that-we-can-attain-or/) [G.Gyarmati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-gyarmati/) > [The seminary programs will help you as a young man or woman to lay a foundation for happiness and success in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/the-seminary-programs-will-help-you-as-a-young-man-or-woman-to-lay-a/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [The universe holds enough happiness and success for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vincent/the-universe-holds-enough-happiness-and-success-for-everyone/) [Ali Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vincent/) ## 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. 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