It's not necessarily the reality that shapes us, but the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, but we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.
For someone who generally thinks the field of psychology is filled with quacks and people less mentally healthy than almost any other, the fact that I've found anything in the psychological realm worth sharing is meaningful all by itself. Trust me on this.
Over the next few months, I'm going to be writing what I'm leaning about positive psychology. In my mind it's where psychology actually collides with common sense and practicality. And it has very applicable ideas. (My favorite's are found in The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work and Before Happiness: The 5 Hidden Keys to Achieving Success, Spreading Happiness, and Sustaining Positive Change.
What if you could transform your life in 21 days? Would you do it? Here's your chance and — I wouldn't kid you about this — it's screamingly simple. Here are Shawn Achor‘s five steps to a happier life:
- 3 Gratitudes – every morning write down three things you are grateful for, every day they should be new things you haven't written down before
- Journaling – every night take five minutes to record one positive experience you had during the past 24 hours
- Exercise – find a form of physical activity to engage in, mornings seem to have the strongest effect
- Meditation – take a couple of minutes to stop multitasking, focus on your breathing going in and out or some other simple, singular function; personally I like to do this in the form of prayer
- Random Acts of Kindness – each day do at least one (optimally do five) acts of kindness for others, helping, supporting, or even just complimenting or encouraging
Join us in incorporating these five simple steps for the next 21 days. We'd love to hear how it impacted your lives!
I think there really is something to positive psychology, can really change your life for the better. Everyone can gain something from it so they can live a happier and more productive lifestyle.
William T. Co recently posted…Anger
Thanks a lot for the idea to write about positive thinking and positive attitude to life as this is what I need right now. I am taking a serious decision and thinking a lot about it and it makes me a bit down to earth and I just need some cheering up.
DiNaRa, so glad this was helpful to you. There is so much good info, I ordered his book, The Happiness Advantage. Reading it now. Will report! (It comes in a Kindle version, too, which is what I ordered.)
It’s all in your attitude and approach to life. I was many pounds overweight and it wasn’t until I started to love myself more that things changed. I exercised smarter and, more importantly, started to eat right. Because of my progress I’ve created a site to help others do what I’ve successfully done. Like most things in life, it doesn’t start with the body though, it starts with the attitude.