We are going through dire times, and it can be hard to stay positive in times like these. But I have been struck multiple times in the past year by what I feel is a significant departure from the past attitude that to be successful, you must not have fun, lest it bite you later. This may be a fairly European or Calvinist sentiment, but I've been hearing the opposite more and more.

The people who have been having fun with what they're doing have been more successful than anyone else, it seems. Some examples from recent history are figure skater Alisa Liu at the 2026 Winter Olympics after her retirement, who was very obviously having a lot of fun, and Peter Steinberger's attitude towards what is currently known as OpenClaw. It's mostly: let's have fun and see what happens. Neither of them seem to need the money or the fame, but they enjoy what they do so much, that there is joy in coming up with new ways to do things and get better.

I think there is some massive wisdom in this, and anecdoctal evidence confirms this: I've never seen someone who was wildly successful and happy (!) who wasn't having fun at what they did. Sure, most of us can grind ourselves down to reach some goal that we don't care about. But retaining a fulfilled and happy life while doing so requires us to have fun. And honestly, which goal is worth reaching if it costs your happiness? Joy as authentic expression of the self will take you to places that hardship never will.