I studied, I met with medical doctors, scientists, and I’m here to tell you that the way to a more productive, more inspired, more joyful life is: getting enough sleep.
Don't buy society’s definition of success. Because it’s not working for anyone. It’s not working for women, it's not working for men, it's not working for polar bears, it's not working for the cicadas that are apparently about to emerge and swarm us. It’s only truly working for those who make pharmaceuticals for stress, sleeplessness and high blood pressure.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success is often defined by societal standards, which may not be beneficial for everyone.
Arianna Huffington's quote challenges the traditional definitions of success imposed by society, indicating that these standards are detrimental to individuals—including both men and women—as well as to the natural world. Instead of pursuing success as defined by external pressures, she advocates for a more personal understanding of success that considers holistic well-being rather than material achievements, suggesting that current societal pressures lead to widespread stress and health issues.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a seminar on personal development, this quote could be used to encourage attendees to rethink their values.
More from Arianna Huffington
All quotes →Women need to lead the way to change our culture of burnout - both for their sake and also for the sake of successful men who desperately need a new model of success. And the still-very-macho world of STEM is a great place to start.
Don’t just climb the ladder of success - a ladder that leads, after all, to higher and higher levels of stress and burnout - but chart a new path to success, remaking it in a way that includes not just the conventional metrics of money and power, but a third metric that includes well-being, wisdom, wonder and giving, so that the goal is not just to succeed but to thrive.
We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.
Failure is not the opposite of success; it's part of success.
But, in fact, there is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears - like not being approved of - pale by comparison to the fears you have about your children.
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It was not until the end of my freshman year in high school that I thought I could really have a future in track and field. I definitely did not think I could make it to the Olympics back then, though; I was just focused on making it to the state finals!
Build wealth as a by product of your business success. If wealth is your only objective in business, you will probably fail.
Once you turn pro and you're making the big money and kids are buying your sneakers and your skates and your gloves and so on, you are a member of that role model club.
I do my job like I breathe — so if I can’t breathe I’m in trouble.
If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success.
It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.