What makes you happy? Has your mood become dependent on external factors?

Maybe you’re looking for the next promotion to feel better, or getting a better car, a bigger home or a new wardrobe?

At work, the well-worn mantra is put in more hours, then you’ll be more successful (and feel happy for a bit)… then this leads to greater success… and higher goals…but that means putting in more hours and working harder…

Sound familiar? And when you step back for a moment, isn’t it exhausting just thinking about it?

This unhealthy cycle only gives us a short-lived feeling of satisfaction – and we never actually feel really happy.

In fact, our brains are wired in exactly the opposite way. When you feel centred - and happy as a result - you’ll perform better, and be more creative.

According to research by Shawn Achor, former Harvard Psychology Professor, being truly happy will make you about 31% more productive and help you use your intelligence more.

You’ll quite simply shine.

So - how can you get happy?

First, acknowledge that you’re shaped not by reality, but by the lens through which you see life. Achor found that 75% of a person’s success comes from their optimism, their social support, and seeing stress at a challenge - not a threat.

If you start to shift and make your viewpoint more positive, you can alter the chemistry in your brain and fire up all your learning centers

Here’s some ways to fire up your success:

1. Create some quiet time every day:

   Whether you take five or 30 minutes, the idea is to try and untrain your brain from thinking of a million tasks and things at once. This doesn’t need to be meditation (unless you’re already practising this healing art, in which case, good for you!). Just give yourself space to think deeply and this will help you become better at problem-solving.
   

2. Pay it forward:

   Send an unprompted message a day, to commend or thank someone. The other person will feel awesome - and so will you.
   

3. Be Grateful:

   You may have heard of the 21-Day Gratitude Challenge that people are finding so inspiring. Try writing down 3 new things you’re grateful for. Doing this rewires your brain to think positively and to look for the good around you.

Source: Shawn Achor Ted Talk https://youtu.be/GXy__kBVq1M

Just by training your brain to be more positive, you can then change what happens at work - or in any part of your life.

Doesn’t that sound great?

Want more inspiration?

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