The happy secret to better work | Shawn Achor

TED・2 minutes read

The speaker recounts a childhood incident with his sister, leading to the discovery of positive psychology and the importance of shaping one's reality and happiness levels. He emphasizes the impact of training the brain to be more positive through exercises like gratitude, meditation, and acts of kindness to enhance productivity and success.

Insights

  • The childhood incident involving the speaker and his sister highlights the power of reframing situations positively to influence happiness and well-being.
  • The emphasis on positive psychology over negative-focused approaches underscores the significance of training the brain to prioritize positivity through gratitude exercises and daily activities to enhance overall success and happiness.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • How did the speaker's childhood incident influence his perspective?

    The speaker's childhood incident of his sister falling off a bunk bed and his attempt to console her by comparing her landing to a unicorn shaped his outlook on positivity and happiness. This event sparked his interest in positive psychology, emphasizing the importance of viewing the world through a positive lens to shape reality and happiness levels. The speaker learned that changing one's perspective can significantly impact overall well-being and success, highlighting the power of positivity in enhancing life outcomes.

  • What factors predict long-term happiness according to the speaker?

    The speaker mentions that external factors only predict 10% of long-term happiness, while the brain's processing of the world accounts for 90%. He emphasizes that job success is more influenced by optimism levels, social support, and stress perception rather than IQ. This insight underscores the significance of internal factors, such as mindset and social connections, in determining happiness and success in the long run.

  • Why does the speaker advocate for a shift towards positive psychology?

    The speaker criticizes the prevalent focus on negative aspects in wellness programs and advocates for a shift towards positive psychology due to its potential to enhance well-being and success. He explains that happiness should precede success, as a positive brain performs better in all aspects. By training the brain to be more positive through gratitude exercises and engaging in activities that promote positivity, individuals can rewire their brains to focus on positivity first, leading to improved productivity and overall success.

  • How can individuals alter the happiness and success formula according to the speaker?

    The speaker suggests engaging in three new activities daily for 21 days to rewire the brain to focus on positivity first. These activities include journaling about a positive experience, exercising to reinforce positive behavior, practicing meditation to enhance focus, and performing random acts of kindness. Through consistent brain training focused on positivity, individuals can alter the happiness and success formula, leading to a ripple effect of positivity and potentially sparking a revolution in their lives.

  • What is the key takeaway from the speaker's discussion on happiness and success?

    The key takeaway from the speaker's discussion is the importance of viewing the world through a positive lens to shape reality and happiness levels. He highlights the significant impact of internal factors, such as mindset and social support, on long-term happiness and success. By training the brain to be more positive through gratitude exercises and engaging in activities that promote positivity, individuals can enhance their overall well-being and productivity. The speaker's emphasis on positivity as a precursor to success underscores the transformative power of a positive mindset in achieving personal and professional goals.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Unicorn Landing: Shifting to Positive Psychology"

  • The speaker recalls a childhood incident where he and his sister were playing on a bunk bed, leading to his sister falling off and hurting herself.
  • The speaker had previously broken his sister's arm accidentally, so he was nervous about her getting hurt again.
  • To prevent his sister from crying, the speaker tells her she landed like a unicorn, which makes her smile and continue playing.
  • This incident led the speaker to discover positive psychology, which focuses on studying outliers and moving the average up in terms of potential and happiness.
  • The speaker discusses the importance of changing the lens through which we view the world to shape our reality and happiness levels.
  • He mentions that external factors only predict 10% of long-term happiness, while the brain's processing of the world accounts for 90%.
  • Job success is more predicted by optimism levels, social support, and stress perception than by IQ.
  • The speaker criticizes the focus on negative aspects in wellness programs and advocates for a shift towards positive psychology.
  • He explains that happiness should precede success, as a positive brain performs better in all aspects.
  • By training the brain to be more positive through gratitude exercises, individuals can enhance their productivity and overall success.

11:29

"Rewire Brain with Daily Positive Activities"

  • Engage in three new activities daily for 21 days to rewire the brain to focus on positivity first, such as journaling about a positive experience, exercising to reinforce the impact of behavior, practicing meditation to enhance focus, and performing random acts of kindness like sending a positive email to someone in your support network. Through consistent brain training, it is possible to alter the happiness and success formula, leading to a ripple effect of positivity and potentially sparking a revolution.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.