Meet A Man Or A Woman Who's Married To His Work

Does being ambitious mean you're ultimately going to be unhappy? Not necessarily. "People who are ambitious are happy that they have accomplished more in their lives," says John D. Kammeyer-Mueller of the University of Florida. He and another researcher analyzed data collected from a group of gifted individuals over several decades. They found that the children who were the most conscientious (organized, disciplined, and goal-seeking), extroverted, and from a strong socioeconomic background were also the most ambitious. The most ambitious kids went on to become more educated, attend more prestigious schools, make more money and have higher-status jobs that those deemed less ambitious.

When it comes to the well-being of the more ambitious vs. less ambitious, the researchers found that being ambitious is only weakly connected with well-being and negatively associated with longevity. Another study found that having frequent contact with neighbors and feeling like one belonged to a group increased feelings of well-being.

But relationships can also constrain. Think about it: How often have you had to go visit family members who live in the same town as you or check in with your significant other while out?