A study by psychologists at the University of Essex looked into the link between emotions and success. They weighed the positive and negative emotions based on how each one impacts the likelihood of reaching a goal. The researchers also explained why using negative feelings to achieve success can be costly.
The study used a special questionnaire to measure 12 emotions related to success or failure. These include six positive feelings—hope, pleasure, pride, peace, confidence, and relief—and six negative ones—anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, disappointment, and despair. The findings showed that half of these emotions, both positive and negative, are associated with higher chances of success.
The emotions linked to better success odds are hope, anger, pleasure, anxiety, pride, and shame. Among these, anger has the strongest short-term boost for reaching goals. Still, it comes with risks. Anger activates the fight-or-flight response, which causes the body to produce adrenaline and cortisol. In small amounts, these hormones can boost performance.
But if this stress response stays active for too long, it can harm health. The study’s authors warn that relying on negative emotions for motivation can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, back pain, nausea, poor sleep, and tiredness.
Sometimes, anger or anxiety can motivate us more than feelings like peace or pleasure. But in the long run, negative emotions can reduce productivity, even though they give us energy now.
The most healthy and effective emotion for success is hope. Past research shows that hope encourages motivation and determination. It helps us believe that, with a good plan and effort, success is possible.
The worst emotion for reaching goals is despair. While hope keeps us optimistic and eager, despair does the opposite. It drains our energy and stops us from moving forward.
A story that supports these findings is that of Sylvester Stallone. In the documentary "Sly Stallone," he talks about how feelings like anger, pride, hope, shame, disappointment, and fear of failure pushed him to write the script for the movie "Rocky" and play the main role.
Stallone’s story shows how strong emotions of both kinds can keep someone determined. His life experiences made him want to never give up. The character of Rocky—focused and brave—was shaped by Stallone's own struggles.
At the end of the film, Stallone says, “My job is to give hope.” Over time, hope is the best emotion for success. It helps us move forward without harming our health. Negative feelings like anger can give us a quick push to the top, but they fade fast. After that, many people just burn out instead of reaching their goals.