Happiness traps: how we sabotage ourselves at work

Several 'traps' can compromise an individual's job satisfaction. The ambition trap drives a single-minded concentration on winning. The 'should' trap is a mindset in which a person does what is expected rather than what he or she wants to do. The overwork trap leads to stress. Emotional intelligence can help workers identify which trap they are in, then they can engage in three known processes that increase career satisfaction: meaningful and purposeful work, optimism drawn from a personal vision, and workplace friendships, from which individuals obtain social and professional support. Happiness at work generates overall benefits including energy, creativity, adaptability, and mental acuity.