A few weeks ago, I shut Shawn Achor's bestselling book, The Happiness Advantage, feeling enlightened and empowered. This book is an exploration of happiness and it's undeniable role in career success. Although our society is so often tempted to focus on and research negativity and failure (for example, there are thousands of studies that attempt to identify the roots of depression and how to counteract it), much can be learned from researching positivity and success (positive psychology centers on how the most fulfilled and successful among us capitalize upon inner happiness to achieve their maximum potential).
Positive psychology proves that happiness is a prerequisite to success and not the other way around. The old phrase, "Money doesn't buy happiness," is quite applicable to this concept. Holding a high-paying job does not guarantee happiness or success; in fact, high-paying jobs are often the most stressful positions we can hold, and when stress accumulates, failure to achieve our potential results. By no means are high-paying jobs and stress unalterably connected; the quality of our experiences depend on our projections and perceptions of the outside world. If we actively project happiness and search for the goodness in life, we will be happier people and workers, and we will come closer to our potentials as a result. The Happiness Advantage examines far more than the relationship between high-paying jobs and success. Achor studied all kinds of businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to Wall Street firms to non-profits, and he found that happiness was universally integral to true success. If you own a business or manage a team, you need to read this book. If you don't, you still need to read this book. It contains concepts important to leaders and followers alike, and it will teach you how to retrain your brain and prioritize your actions to look for and harness possibilities (rather than closed doors). I also highly recommend watching Shawn Achor's TED Talk here! Stay positive! -Sierra
1 Comment
Betty Beamguard
4/9/2017 10:49:16 am
Great video and very entertaining. Now to implement it...
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