This week's TED talk is Shawn Achor's The Happy Secret to Better Work. It is a fast-paced talk with a sense of humor. It also teaches some valuable lessons.
Background
I first came across this TED talk about a year ago. It has stuck with me since then, helping me remember to find the positive in my everyday life. I hope you will find it as useful as I have.
Achor starts the talk with a funny story from his childhood. I won't spoil it here, but the takeaway is that thinking of something that makes you happy can take your mind off of pain. He goes on to explain that our culture is often too focused on the negative.
Next, Achor describes his experiences studying positive psychology. His use of anecdotes and humor is very engaging. Even if the video had ended halfway through the talk, I would have come away feeling entertained.
Your Brain at Positive
Achor observes that our culture has a tendency to "push happiness over the cognitive horizon." We say we will be happy when we get good grades. When we get good grades, we say we will be happy when we get into a good school. Then, the goal becomes getting a good job. Then, it's getting a better job. We say we will be happy once we achieve success, but we keep moving the goal post.
What we are missing is something called the happiness advantage. Achor explains it this way: "your brain at positive performs significantly better than at negative, neutral or stressed." We have the order reversed. You don't become successful first, then become happy. You learn to be happy, and then you can achieve success.
Being happy now is easier said than done, especially if you are poor or have health problems like I do. Achor offers some solutions. Practices like meditation, random acts of kindness and journaling about positive experiences can help. Don't push happiness over the horizon, and you will get there sooner.
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