I wonder whether you noticed an article by the columnist David Brooks in the New York Times entitled the "Sandra Bullock Trade". It certainly caught my eye as it focuses upon the interactions between personal and professional success with levels of happiness.

Over the last few decades much research has been carried out with regards to the science of happiness. A state of happiness is after all what we would all wish to experience. There are many different and varied goals which we might pursue, but ultimately the thing which we seek through any of these diverse routes is happiness.

One of the many pieces of research has identified that to achieve professional success does not necessarily mean that you will achieve corresponding levels of happiness. But success in your personal life, in your marriage or close relationships, does provide a good indication of happiness. More money might lead you to greater happiness, but not necessarily so; a good relationship is far more likely to pave the way to happiness (and also longevity, but that is another story).

So why are so many more people in this day and age apparently so fixated upon their careers and monetary goals, seemingly oblivious to the potential negative impact upon their relationships? It seems that we are searching for happiness in the wrong places and perhaps it is time for many of us to take a step back and view our lives from a different angle.

This can however be hard to do when we live in a society where our self confidence, self image and sense of achievement is often measured by what we do as opposed to who we really are. Our sense of identity can become blurred and indistinct as our professional persona grows larger and our inner self takes a back seat. As time goes by it becomes easier to live with that persona as it becomes more familiar to us, and frequently shields us from our inner fears and doubts.

Many of us reach a point where we do not want to let go of either the trappings of a successful career or the persona of that successful professional image. But if it is not making you happy or, worse still, standing in the way of your happiness, then it is time for a change. When one reaches such an insight, it becomes important to strip away a few of those superficial layers and look instead at ones inner reality.

Hypnosis is very helpful in this process as it allows you to access your subconscious mind, the part where instinctive thoughts and behaviors are stored. In effect, hypnosis allows you to take a step back and see things from a different angle. Hypnosis helps you to relax in the moment and to experience happiness at the same time.

We know from research findings that to be in a good close relationship is a better indicator of happiness than anything else. Thus the most important thing to focus upon so as to attract happiness into your life is the area of personal relationships. In creating deeper and more meaningful bonds in your personal relationships you will derive far more happiness than from professional success.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads to help create good relationships, happiness and well-being.

P.S. Are you ready to be happy? Grab a free hypnosis mp3 from my website.