I absolutely love this Tedx Talk by Shawn Achor. I think it's a great way to kick off the week. In the video, he discusses how we can wire our brain to experience happiness. At the end, he provides five researched and proven methods for experiencing more happiness in our lives. Those things are:
1) 3 Gratitudes
2) Journaling
3) Exercise
4) Meditation
5) Random Acts of Kindness
In another interview, Achor states that the biggest obstacle to achieving happiness is our failure to do the things listed above despite the fact we know they work. I'm hopeful this blog is a source of valuable information and helps others achieve more fulfillment in life by focusing on positive events and continuing a theme of the book, Paradise in Front of Me . Regardless of whether or not that happens, committing myself to maintaining this blog has proven to be the best strategy I could have developed personally. It's my form of journaling. By sticking to my goal of making two posts weekly, on Monday and Friday, I am forced to be continually on the lookout for positive moments in my life.
So, take the time to listen and then think about ways you can implement his ideas. I'd love for you to share things that work for you personally. Staying positive in a world that bombards us with the negative is not easy, but, like Achor says, we have proven ways to increase our own happiness by changing our lens. I hope you enjoy it. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from his talk:
"Normal is merely average . . . If we study what is merely average, we will remain merely average."
"It's not necessarily the reality that shapes us but the lens through which your brain views the world shapes your reality. If we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time."
"In reality, if I know everything about your external world, I can only predict ten percent of your long-term happiness."
"If happiness is on the other side of success, your brain never gets there."
1) 3 Gratitudes
2) Journaling
3) Exercise
4) Meditation
5) Random Acts of Kindness
In another interview, Achor states that the biggest obstacle to achieving happiness is our failure to do the things listed above despite the fact we know they work. I'm hopeful this blog is a source of valuable information and helps others achieve more fulfillment in life by focusing on positive events and continuing a theme of the book, Paradise in Front of Me . Regardless of whether or not that happens, committing myself to maintaining this blog has proven to be the best strategy I could have developed personally. It's my form of journaling. By sticking to my goal of making two posts weekly, on Monday and Friday, I am forced to be continually on the lookout for positive moments in my life.
So, take the time to listen and then think about ways you can implement his ideas. I'd love for you to share things that work for you personally. Staying positive in a world that bombards us with the negative is not easy, but, like Achor says, we have proven ways to increase our own happiness by changing our lens. I hope you enjoy it. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from his talk:
"Normal is merely average . . . If we study what is merely average, we will remain merely average."
"It's not necessarily the reality that shapes us but the lens through which your brain views the world shapes your reality. If we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time."
"In reality, if I know everything about your external world, I can only predict ten percent of your long-term happiness."
"If happiness is on the other side of success, your brain never gets there."