Happiness, the feeling of positivity, really is the foundation of

“Happiness, the feeling of positivity, really is the foundation of productivity.” — so spoke Miguel McKelvey, co-founder of WeWork, a man who watched great cities rise within cities, built not from steel alone, but from the invisible mortar of human spirit. In these few words lies a truth as old as the dawn of civilization: that the heart’s light determines the hands’ strength. For when the soul burns with joy, every task glows with meaning; but when it is heavy with despair, even the simplest labor turns to dust. Thus, happiness is not a fleeting pleasure—it is the power that sustains creation. It is the hidden flame that drives the craftsman, the thinker, the builder, and the dreamer alike.

In the ancient days, our forebears understood this truth well. The philosophers of Athens, the sages of the East, and the poets of the desert all spoke of a harmony between inner serenity and outer achievement. They knew that a heart clouded by bitterness produces nothing enduring, while a spirit made bright by gratitude brings forth abundance. Consider the tale of the artisan who carved the great temples of Luxor. Though his tools were crude and his days long, he sang at his work, believing each stroke a prayer. Centuries later, his song still echoes through the stones. That is the power of positivity—to bind one’s work to eternity through joy.

Positivity, then, is not a luxury for the idle, but the foundation of productivity for the wise. A mind that delights in its labor sees paths where others see walls. It turns setbacks into lessons, monotony into rhythm, and toil into triumph. When the heart smiles, the body follows; when the spirit is alive, even the impossible begins to yield. Miguel McKelvey, in building places meant to inspire community, touched upon this ancient law—that when people work where they feel connected, appreciated, and uplifted, their efforts multiply like seeds scattered upon fertile ground.

Let us recall a story from more recent times: during the rebuilding of Japan after the Second World War, many expected despair to reign. Yet in factories and workshops, there arose a strange sound—laughter. Workers greeted each dawn with songs, and leaders emphasized not just discipline, but shared purpose and mutual respect. This spirit of collective happiness birthed a nation of astonishing productivity, giving rise to companies that transformed the world. The lesson was clear: prosperity follows joy, not the other way around.

Indeed, to labor without joy is to drain life from the soul. The ancients warned of this too—“Work done in sorrow yields sorrow’s fruit.” Productivity born of fear, greed, or coercion may shine for a moment, but it fades quickly. True creation springs only from the fertile soil of inner light. When one’s heart is calm and uplifted, one’s mind becomes a clear mirror, and every thought reflects wisdom. This is why the greatest leaders are not those who demand effort, but those who inspire happiness, for in joy lies the seed of endless energy.

Therefore, let the seeker remember: happiness is not the reward of work—it is the beginning of it. Before striving for results, one must tend to the heart. Rise in the morning and fill your mind with gratitude. Speak kindly, that your own words may echo back as strength. Surround yourself with light—music, beauty, companionship—and let them be your armor against the noise of the world. Then, whatever you build, you will build well.

And when the day grows long and your hands grow weary, remember this teaching of old and new alike: that the truest labor is not of the body, but of the spirit. Let your happiness be the foundation, your positivity the scaffold, and your productivity the temple that rises from them both. For such a temple will not crumble with time—it will stand eternal, built upon the unshakable stone of joy.