Most people believe: if you work harder, you will be more successful, and then you will be happy. But if you think the key to happiness is success, you’ve got it backwards. It’s happiness that fuels success. Shawn Achor is one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness. He’s the bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. More than a decade of research shows that training your brain to be positive first actually leads to greater success at work. On this episode, Shawn shares the four biggest predictors of happiness, how to spark happiness in your own life, and the simple steps you can take to embrace a positive mindset.
Follow Shawn: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Show Notes
- How Shawn became a “happiness researcher” (2:07)
- How small interventions can change your levels of happiness (4:40)
- The definition of happiness: the joy we feel moving towards potential (7:53)
- Success doesn’t fuel happiness; happiness fuels success (10:08)
- The greatest predictors of happiness: optimism, gratitude, meaning and social connection (15:31)
- A better way to use social media (19:16)
- How to measure your happiness (22:33)
- The power in choosing happiness (24:52)
- The human capacity to change (27:14)
- The 21-day gratitude challenge and other simple ways to increase your happiness (27:37)
- The science of happiness (30:47)
- The interconnection between happiness and success (33:06)
- The one thing to do after you listen to this podcast (37:22)
- What to teach your kids about happiness (40:12)
Resources / People Mentioned
- The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
- Before Happiness by Shawn Achor
- Big Potential by Shawn Achor
- Oprah’s 21-Day Happiness Course with Shawn Achor
- Shawn Achor’s TED Talk: The happy secret to better work
- Ellen Langer (Harvard)
- Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General
- Make Stress Work For You by Shawn Achor
- Positive Psychology Center at The University of Pennsylvania
- Bringing Big Potential to Flint, Michigan
- Mindset by Carol Dweck
- Tal Ben-Shahar, positive psychology
- Photo Lab HD
- Pete Carroll, NFL coach
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Jenn Lim on Delivering Happiness at Work
- Kelly McGonigal on How to Make Stress Your Friend
- Adam Grant on How to Find Motivation and Meaning at Work
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!