Einstein’s Theory of Happiness | Learn About Life Success

What Can Einstein Teach Us About the Secret to Happiness?

In 1922, just after finding out he’d been chosen to receive the Nobel Prize, Albert Einstein traveled to Japan. He stayed for six weeks at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

As he was preparing to meet the Emperor and Empress, a bellman came to deliver a message. As the story goes, Einstein was short on change, so rather than giving the bellman a tip, he gave him a note.

He told the bellman that his note might someday be more valuable than any change he could give.

About 100 years later, that exact note sold at auction for over $1.5 million!

Here’s what Einstein wrote:

“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”

What did Einstein mean when he wrote, “A calm and modest life…?”

At the time he wrote this note, Einstein had just won the Nobel Prize, become an advisor to the League of Nations, and was on a global lecture tour. Was he really living a “calm and modest life”?

Some might say not, but Einstein had already realized something important about life. Success isn’t the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success.

In other words, the building blocks of a truly good life are found in what you love!

Einstein believed that striving for the traditional markers of success like money, fame, power, and recognition wouldn’t bring true happiness and success. Instead, those people would only ever find a very limited version of what appeared to be successful to the world.

Years later, in an interview, Einstein expanded on his Theory of Happiness:

“I am happy because I want nothing from anyone. I do not care for money. Decorations, titles or distinctions mean nothing to me. I do not crave praise. The only thing that gives me pleasure, apart from my work, my violin, and my sailboat, is the appreciation of my fellow workers…Great captains of industry and great kings fall into the same error. An invisible wall impedes their vision.” — Albert Einstein

But, how are we to interpret this? Is Einstein suggesting that we stop working for the things we want? Stop dreaming of a life we desire? 

I don’t believe that Einstein was telling us to stop striving, achieving, or reaching our goals. In fact, Einstein is also famously quoted saying that one’s life purpose is tied to achieving one’s goals!

But I do think he intended to teach us a different way to strive for the things we desire.

Two Important Lessons from Einstein’s View of Success and Happiness

1. Happiness & success aren’t self-defining

Have you ever felt unfulfilled when life was good? Have you ever been busy and outwardly-successful but sensed emptiness inside?

Or, have you ever had to make a difficult decision that left you feeling content? Finished a workout that felt like a struggle but left you feeling happy and accomplished?

Happiness isn’t as simple of a concept as we might like to believe. The things that make us happy vary from person to person and moment to moment.

Sometimes happiness is found in moments that feel good, like eating a favorite meal or petting a puppy. Other times, the happiest moments can feel hard, like making a difficult decision or perseverance to achieve a goal. 

Einstein realized the complexities of states like happiness and success. 

The truth is, real contentment comes from pursuing what feels best to you. And for the highly regarded genius, what felt best was discovering how the world worked, his sailboat, and his violin.

What does your brand of success and happiness look like?

Building the Vision of Your Dreams

Guided Meditation: Gently open your subconscious to the infinite wisdom of the Universe. Craft a vision that moves you closer to living a life you truly love.

2. Happiness Produces Success

One of the largest studies on the subject of happiness was published in 2015. The authors reviewed and distilled 225 studies on happiness and concluded:

“Happiness [leads] to behaviors that often produce further success in work, relationships, and health; and these successes result in part from a person’s positive affect.”

Often, when we don’t feel happy, we’ve made choices that have left us disconnected from ourselves and our true passions. Those choices are usually safe, practical, and earn us the approval of others… all the things we might think we need to be successful.

But, if Einstein and these studies on the subject of happiness are correct, the most successful behaviors usually stem from being happy first!

The good news is that you can always find your answers and fulfillment inside by asking yourself, “What would I love?” 

Your exploration might lead you to a new path or a new exciting dream… The possibilities are endless!

If You Want Greater Success, Don’t Go Looking For It… Come FROM It

You could spend the rest of your life struggling to achieve success from where you are.

But if you’re interested in finding happiness that leads to success, I recommend coming from your dream.

Cast a clear, specific vision for what your version of happiness and success looks like. What kind of life would make you the most content and the most happy? What would you love?

If you aren’t sure what the happiest version of your life would look like…

This powerful meditation will help you open the doors of possibility and craft a powerful vision of the life you would love to live.

Download it here!