Arianna Huffington on Mindfulness & Success

How Burnout Sparked a Transformation

In 2007, Arianna Huffington—founder of The Huffington Post and author of Thrive—collapsed from exhaustion, hitting her head. This wake-up call made her question society’s definition of success.

"By our society’s definition, I was successful. But by any sane definition, I was not."
—Arianna Huffington

She realized that equating success solely with money and power leads to chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and burnout. Her experience ignited a mission to promote mindfulness and well-being as essential metrics for success.

The High Cost of Stress and Burnout

Modern work culture’s unsustainable pace has dramatic consequences:

• Stress: Weakens immune function and increases heart disease risk.
• Sleep deprivation: Linked to poor decision-making and productivity loss.
• Distraction: Reduces creativity and deep focus.

Huffington advocates for a third metric of success—one that values well-being, wisdom, and mindfulness.

How Mindfulness Can Help

Research supports mindfulness as a solution:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves sleep quality
• Enhances focus and emotional resilience

For deeper insights, explore Mindful magazine’s June 2014 issue.

Key Takeaways

1. Success isn’t just money/power—well-being matters.
2. Burnout is a systemic issue—not a personal failure.
3. Mindfulness practices can counteract workplace stress.

Ready to shift your perspective? Start with small steps: prioritize sleep, take mindful breaks, and redefine what success means to you.