Discovering Happiness: What It Means to be Self Employed

CREATED BY JACKY SHERMAN Published: 14/01/2026 @ 09:01AM #SelfEmployed #NavigateToSuccess #PathwayToHappiness #EntrepreneurMindset #WellBeingAndFulfilment

Are you self-employed and trying to navigate the pathway to happiness? Understanding the dynamics of success and self-perception can significantly enhance your well-being and fulfilment as an entrepreneur ...

Self employed and free, Earning my own way in a life entrepreneurial!

Embarking on the journey of being self-employed can be both exhilarating and daunting. Unlike traditional jobs where metrics of success are often laid out for you, as a self-employed individual, the road to happiness is often paved with your own definition of success.

But what does happiness mean for you, specifically
in this self-reliant role?

At the core of understanding your happiness lies the concept of self-assessment. David Myers' research indicates that happiness can be significantly influenced by one's perception of success compared to others. It's common to feel joy when you believe you are thriving, but this can be easily undermined by the success of peers.

Are your friends' businesses flourishing, or perhaps the influencer down the street seems to be always winning at life? Such comparisons can begin to cloud your own accomplishments - the essence of the social comparison theory.

As a self-employed person, always strive to focus on your progress rather than the successes of others. Establishing a metric that resonates with your values can lead to internal happiness. Are you reaching your goals? Are you nurturing relationships that matter? When you start evaluating your achievements without constantly looking over your shoulder at what others are doing, you cultivate a sense of contentment that is unshakeable.

Richard Easterlin's studies further suggest that happiness isn't merely about the money you make; it's often more about how you perceive your wealth relative to your peers.

As you navigate the complexities of being self-employed, consider what wealth means to you. It might not solely be financial; perhaps it's about the freedom to work at your own pace or the satisfaction of creating something from scratch. By redefining and personalising what success looks like for you, you can enhance your sense of well-being.

One practical approach to maintaining this sense of happiness lies in setting achievable, personal goals. They can be small, like dedicating an hour each day to improving your craft, or larger, like launching a new service. Each milestone, however insignificant it may seem in the grand scheme of things, adds to your self-confidence and, consequently, your happiness.

Networking can also play a critical role in
how you feel about yourself!

Connecting with fellow self-employed individuals can facilitate a sense of camaraderie and mutual support. Sharing experiences, challenges, and victories can help you realise that happiness is often a shared journey. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who are also carving their paths can reduce feelings of isolation, allowing you to revel in your achievements together.

Ultimately, happiness as a self-employed person is an intricate interplay of self-perception, personal achievements, and meaningful connections. As you reflect on what truly brings you joy, remember that your happiness is not defined by the successes of others, but rather by the milestones you set for yourself.

So take a deep breath, embrace your journey, and actively shape your narrative - because happiness as a self-employed individual begins always within you.

Until next time ...

JACKY SHERMAN
Join my mailing list! Click here and be one of the first to know when I publish a new blog post!

Share the blog love ...

Buffer Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pinterest WhatsApp #SelfEmployed #NavigateToSuccess #PathwayToHappiness #EntrepreneurMindset #WellBeingAndFulfilment

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...
		Why Some Network Groups Flounder If you're running your own small business, sooner or later, you will go networking. And when you do, you will quite quickly discover that some network groups thrive whilst others flounder ......
		Why is it never too late to think like an entrepreneur Over the past few years, I've noticed a clear shift in how people talk about business, work and financial security. More people than ever are exploring self-employment, side hustles and small business ideas, and it's not just...
		How to make networking work for you with trust and consistency My blog post this week shows you how to make networking work for you without forced small talk. It focuses on trust, follow-through, and simple habits that turn professional connections into something useful. The result is ne...
		What is Passive Aggressive Behaviour, and how do we deal with it? Passive Aggressive Behaviour is a way of expressing negative feelings, such as frustration, resentment or anger, indirectly rather than openly. Instead of stating what is wrong, a person may appear polite or agreeable on the ...
		The art of outsourcing your visibility so you can get on with running your business After years of working as a coach, mentor, and referral marketing specialist, one of the most common conversations I've had with my clients has been about visibility. Not the flashy kind, not ''look at me'' marketing. Just th...
		What keeps you going in your business? Over the weekend, someone shared with me a poster that compared running a business with an iceberg. The author wanted to make the point that all other people saw was the success ......
		Preparing to retire: practical advice for small business owners Thinking about retiring from your business can feel a bit surreal. For many small business owners in the UK, the line between 'work' and 'life' has been blurry for years - so stepping back takes more than just choosing a date...
		Networking Skills: The Benefits Of Focus In Your Networking Once again this week, I was drawn into a debate about whether to appeal to a wide range of clients or focus on a tight target market. It's a fundamental networking skill to know what you want ......

Other bloggers you may like ...
		How to launch your first YourBOT smart AI chatbot this week Posted by Steffi Lewis on https://www.yourbot.uk Launching a smart AI chatbot used to seem like a project that needed a developer, lots of documentation, and strong coffee. Fortunately, platforms lik ...
		Why good estate agent relationships matter for property investors Posted by Sarah Hannaford on https://blog.sarahpasolutions.co.uk Estate agent relationships can make property investing feel far less random. For me, they are one of the smartest ways to hear about opportunities ear ...
		Final P11D deadline for HMRC expenses and Benefits in Kind filing Posted by Helen Beaumont on https://blog.essendontax.co.uk The P11D deadline for HMRC expenses remains important this year, but bigger changes are coming soon. Employers using the old system should file on tim ...
		Why did I create YourPING? Well, it's simple really: fear ... Posted by Steffi Lewis on https://www.yourping.uk I live alone, work from home and have a fairly small circle of close friends. They are wonderful people, and I know they would absolutely be there for ...