Last week when I published the Happiness Crusade something fantastic happened. Fantastic for me.
Shawn Achor visited my website. SHAWN ACHOR!!!!
He came. He read. He linked. He read some more. He left a comment!!!! (that’s how I know he was here)
Sometimes when I need to laugh I watch Shawn’s TED Talk all over again for the grins and giggles effect.
Like today – I watched it five minutes ago. And here’s what hit me:
90% of our long-term happiness is predicted by the way our brains process the world and if happiness is always on the opposite side of success, our brains will never get there.
This is a REALLY important concept to grasp:
If you want to be happy, choose happiness.
Simple? Not for everyone, apparently.
You must consciously change the current formula you are subconsciously using to view the world around you.
1. Identify 3 New Gratitudes daily to scan the world for positive, and not negative.
2. Journal daily about one positive experience you’ve had in the past 24 hours.
3. Regular exercise teaches your brain that your behavior matters.
4. Meditation allows us to get over the “cultural ADHD” we’ve been creating by trying to do multiple tasks at once, and by focusing on the task at hand.
5. Deliberately perform Random or Conscious Acts of Kindness once a day.
Glass half-full? or Half-empty? Do you have a glass?
Do you choose YOU? Because in so doing, you are choosing to flood your brain with dopamine, which triggers happiness AND ignites the learning centers of the brain altering the way we adapt to and view the world. And through this new world view, you will be able to predict your own long-term happiness because your current state of being will be set.
It’s not done overnight – using this new formula. You’ve got to make it a habit.
You CAN do this: Form the habit over the next 21 days and keep track of your progress. Set your intention and before long, the rose-colored glasses you may have mocked others for wearing will be your new lenses!
And please be careful not to mistake others’ ability to choose happiness with naivety or ignorance.
As a happiness promoter I can assure you this couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Now, about Shawn Achor, do you think it’s too soon for me to propose?
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