The Happiness Advantage

The Happiness Advantage

The Happiness Advantage

I’ve been reading a fantastic book, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor.  It provides great insight into what makes us happy and how to be happier.  For the next few weeks, I’ll share with you some of Achor’s strategies, but I’ll start off by setting the foundation.

Apparently, we have it all backwards.  We have become accustomed to thinking that if we work hard, we will become successful, and if we become successful, we will be happy.  Unfortunately, this thought process is flawed and completely backwards.

More than a decade of research has proven that happiness actually fuels performance and causes us to be more productive, efficient, resilient, and creative.  Happiness also leads to success in nearly every area of our life, including work, health, friendship, sociability, creativity, and energy.  In short, when we are happy, we are smarter, more motivated, and more successful.

Unfortunately, we are less happy than we’ve ever been.  A Harvard study in 2010 found that only 45% of workers surveyed were happy at their jobs, the lowest in 22 years of polling.  Depression rates today are ten times higher than they were in 1960.

We used to think happiness was a set point that you are born with, leaving you little room to determine your happiness fate.  We now know based on extensive research, that that is simply not the case.  Our brains are absolutely amazing, and can actually be changed, a process called self-directed neuro-plasticity.  By improving our mood and implementing happiness strategies, we can improve our happiness and experience the happiness advantage.

Happiness also leads to success in nearly every area of our life, including work, health, friendship, sociability, creativity, and energy.

Positive emotions cause our brain to create dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that not only  make us feel good, but dial up the learning centers of our brains to higher levels.

What does this mean for us?  People who put their head down and work hard, waiting for their success to drive their happiness are at a huge disadvantage, while people who capitalize on positivity are more successful and yes, happier.

Happiness is not a magical concept, and it does not need to occur in huge events.  Something as small as a funny video clip or conversation with a friend can have an immediate boost in cognitive power and job performance.In fact, psychologists have found that positive emotions can “undo” physical stress and anxiety, a phenomenon they call the “undoing effect”.

Next week I’ll start exploring Achor’s strategies for improving your level of happiness!

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Anne breaks down the daily habits and skills needed to grow and cultivate RESILIENCE.

Having friendships and a sense of belonging is considered a core psychological need and has a big impact on our physical and mental health.

In fact, it has been proven that social connection is one of the best predictors of longevity, which is why I`ve dedicated an entire module in the Resilience Reset Deep Dive to the importance of social connection to build resilience. Learn more 👉👉👉 https://www.annegradygroup.com/deepdive/

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Let’s face it - life is stressful. The lines between our personal and professional lives have blurred, we are overwhelmed by increased workloads and decreased resources, and there is an unprecedented amount of change and uncertainty.

Uncertainty often leads to anxiety because the brain tends to fill in the gaps with worst-case scenarios. You can help your brain cope with anxiety by practicing these skills 👇

1️⃣ Cultivate a Growth Mindset
2️⃣ Practice Mindfulness
3️⃣ Control the controllables
4️⃣ Break it down
5️⃣ Maintain Healthy Habits

More tips and strategies are in this month’s blog post. The link is in my bio!
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Did you know that resilient teams have:

⭐️ 74% less stress AND 75% greater productivity
⭐️ Higher engagement and performance
⭐️ Improved Innovation and creativity
⭐️ Stronger relationships & Greater well-being

Using the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, the Resilience Reset Deep Dive provides a road map to developing resilient leaders, teams, and organizations. Interested in learning more? Here`s a sneak preview of one of the modules. 🎥👀
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#ThrowbackThursday to a Tiger King Halloween 🐯 ...

Realistic optimism is a mindset that combines a positive outlook with a grounded understanding of reality. It involves maintaining hope and confidence while acknowledging and accepting the challenges and uncertainties of life.

Rather than denying or minimizing difficulties, approach situations with resilience, flexibility, and a belief in your ability to navigate obstacles effectively. You’ve got this. #mindfulmonday
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We’ve all had those days where everything seems to go wrong. You wake up late, your coffee spills and your car won’t start. It’s easy to let a lousy morning spiral out of control and ruin your entire day.

Wherever we direct our attention becomes our reality. In other words, we find what we look for. Here are 3 things you can do to create a bad moment boundary:

1️⃣ Accept It: The sooner you can give it a quick “It is what it is” label, the better.

2️⃣ Put It in a Box: You can revisit the box later, but for now, the box holds this experience, and you don’t need to carry it.

3️⃣ Reset: Rather than jump into the next task or activity, take three deep breaths, extending the exhale.

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Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.

Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 3 books. Her newest, Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience, is available on Amazon now.

6 Comments

    • Definitely easier said than done. And yes, according to the research, happiness begets success. Stay tuned for next week’s post with some strategies to get there! 🙂 Hope you are doing well. miss you!

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