Scarlett's Way: Scarlett Johansson, Star of This Summers the Avengers, Has a Never-Fail Method for Achieving Lasting Happiness: Pick the Most Difficult and Painful Path Possible, and Proceed

Zimmerman, Mike, Success

THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF CHALLENGE-SEEKERS.

The first kind, and you probably know people like this, deliberately make their lives more difficult. They violate the "rule of too," as in, taking on too much, too soon, too often. At work and home, they like you to think they can do it all. The rationale is that they'll be recognized as stars or superhuman workhorses. Success, to them, is ultimately about being recognized for all they endure.

Then there's the Scarlett Johansson method: "I'm always interested in doing something that I don't think I can survive."

Let's be honest: When you see Scarlett Johansson, you don't initially think "workhorse." She's stunning and has an air of calm. There's as much serenity and smarts in her smile as there is sexuality. (Woody Allen has famously called her "sexually overwhelming" while simultaneously lamenting that she's wittier than he is.) She answers my questions in a very casual way, yet with an undeniable intelligence. That's the thing: She makes success look effortless. Yet. she's the first to tell you that nothing she does in her search for fulfillment is easy.

"Being happy, at least in my experience, takes work. It doesn't necessarily sit well when you say it like that because it seems like happiness shouldn't require work. li should be easy. I've found that it's actually quite difficult. There's a challenge to in h requires self-reflection and lot Of work to find out what it is that makes you happy. I'm not just talking about We fact that, oh, a perfect tuna fish sandwich makes me happy. Obviously."

She pauses.

"Though it does."

We laugh at this because, hey, who doesn't like a good tuna fish sandwich? But here I get my first peek into why she seeks out tough challenges as a matter of course. The reason has nothing to do with an attitude of self-flagellation or attention-seeking through martyrdom. Instead she understands that it is a fact of life--and the burden of everyone in pursuit. of happiness--that a perfect tuna fish sandwich doesn't make itself. So let's talk about the work.

Johansson has worked for more than half her life. She's 27, so that's a significant statement about her youthful ethic. She grew up in New York City, and as a kid in the '90s she accumulated experience with prestigious directors the way a young girl today might collect Justin Nether posters. Rob …

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Publication information: Article title: Scarlett's Way: Scarlett Johansson, Star of This Summers the Avengers, Has a Never-Fail Method for Achieving Lasting Happiness: Pick the Most Difficult and Painful Path Possible, and Proceed. Contributors: Zimmerman, Mike - Author. Magazine title: Success. Publication date: June 2012. Page number: 76+. © 2009 Success Magazine. COPYRIGHT 2012 Gale Group.

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