TED Talks | Day 11 {Day 1 of Train Your Brain}

Shawn Achor: Work Happier

 

Summary:

We believe that we should work to be happy, but could that be backwards? In this fast-moving and entertaining talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that actually happiness inspires productivity.

 

Key Points:

• Link between happiness and success
• news focuses on negative and makes you think that that is the accurate ratio of positive (very little) to negative (the majority)
• it's not reality that shapes us, rather the lens with which you view reality, if we can change the lens we can change our happiness
• 90% of long term happiness is how your brain processes the world
• only 25% of job success is predicted by IQ - 75% of success is optimism levels, social support and the ability to see stress as a challenge - not a threat
• the formula for happiness and success must be reversed from:
• work harder -----> achieve more success ------> be happier; to
• positivity -----> better performance -----> better work
• to achieve this, train your brain to be more positive:
• write down 3 things you are grateful for each day
• journal one positive experience
• exercise
• meditate
• random acts of kindness (one positive email per day to someone)

Notes:

Loved this one. Watched it twice. Very entertaining. And likely correct. A change in attitude could benefit me greatly right now. Willing to try the 21 day challenge. Here we go:

 

Day 1 - Train Your Brain

 

Three gratitudes:

1. Kelsey made her own lunch.
2. Advil and midol work.
3. Did not have to shovel snow this morning.

Positive experience: Tried a new recipe and took some to work to share with the girls. They all loved it. Made it again tonight for them. :)

 

For today that is as good as it gets.

Postscript..........big storm, power out, left for Vancouver, no blogging...oops!