People who value spiritual values and social relationships are much happier than those who focus mainly on their own achievements and possessions. How happy you are is directly related to what you value: spirituality is at the top, followed by your social relationships, your physical health, and lastly external achievements like money and status. This pattern shows that the more you focus only on yourself, the less happy you become.
This is because we are naturally social beings. People who prioritize their family and friends over their own well-being are ultimately happier than those who focus mainly on their own needs. Spirituality is seen as the least egocentric value because it helps you look beyond yourself, which psychologists call ‘self-transcendence’. In contrast, external achievements like career success and material possessions are the most self-centered values, which explains why they contribute the least to your sense of happiness.
This does not mean that personal goals and physical health are unimportant, but that they work best as part of a broader perspective where connection with others and meaningful values are central. Developing spiritual growth and investing in deep social relationships are therefore the most reliable paths to sustainable happiness.
