happiness creates success

happiness

This morning I needed a happiness shot.  Not for any particular reason, but I just did and I got it from Shawn Achor, a psychologist and the founder and CEO of Good Think, Inc. He gave a TED talk a few years ago that reflects the way that I parent, which is great, but in the moment I sometimes forget that it should direct the way that I live as well.

As a society we tend to believe happiness will result from the completion or acquisition of something. We will be happy when we are successful. I’ve spent my parenting career telling my children that a new phone or toy or dress or friend won’t make them happy. They will be happy when they choose to be happy with the toy or dress or friend or phone that they already possess. So why, then, do we think that we will be happier if we, as adults, are more productive or successful in our jobs? In fact, it’s just the opposite.  We will be more successful at our jobs when we look at life through a lens that allows us to be happy.

According to Mr. Achor, if you can be happy in the present, you will be more successful at work.  He says the ‘happiness advantage’ provides:

  • more success securing a job
  • ability to keep a job
  • superior productivity
  • more resiliency
  • less burnout
  • less turnover
  • greater sales

If you want to train your brain to be positive you should do the following five things for 21 days straight. Randy Scott Hyde experimented with the five for 30 days.  They worked for him (and he draws some pretty awesome stick figures along the way).  I’m starting today….why not do something momentous on April Fools Day?  Seems like the perfect time to me.

  1. write 3 gratitudes
  2. journal about 1 positive experience from the day
  3. exercise
  4. meditate
  5. do something nice for someone else

Want to join me?
Leslie

here’s the video….worth the 12 minutes, I promise!