Blog

  • Home
Shawnarchor

Today, when I checked my inbox, I found an e-mail from one of my readers. She pointed me in the direction of a TED Talk by Shawn Achor about re-wiring your brain. I loved this video so much, I’ve decided to share it with you:

Click on the photo to view the Ted Talk. I highly recommend that you do.

Have you watched the video (if not, watch it before continuing)? Are you inspired? I am, which is why I’ve decided to outline the challenge for anyone who is interested in taking this on.

First, here was Shawn’s thesis statement(essentially) for this lecture:

“If you can raise someone’s level of positivity in the present, then their brain experiences a HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE.”

“Your brain at positive performs significantly better (31% better) than it does at negative, neutral or stressed. Your intelligence rises, your creativity rises, and your energy levels rise.

NOW FOR THE CHALLENGE

The challenge consists of 5 activities that you commit to doing everyday for 21 days (that’s only 3 weeks… you can do anything for 3 weeks).

  1.  Record 3 new things that you’re grateful for (this will rewire your brain to recognize and look for the positive)
  2. Journal about one positive experience  (this will help your brain to relive that positive memory in lieu of the negative or embarrassing ones which tend to take up space in our heads)
  3. Exercise (this teaches your brain that your behaviour matters. The key with this is to do manageable amounts of exercise every day (one day could – and should – be a stretching day). You don’t want to burn yourself out. You’re teaching yourself discipline, and proving to yourself that you can follow through on your promises)
  4. Meditation (this will help you to get over the cultural ADHD that exists all around us, and will allow your body and mind to focus on the task at hand).
  5. Random Acts of Kindness (when you open your e-mail, or twitter, or Facebook – write one positive post or e-mail that praises or thanks someone in your social support network….  I wonder if that’s what Linda was doing when she wrote me that lovely e-mail).

It’s a fantastic challenge. Just difficult enough to make a difference, but not so hard that it becomes daunting. Many of the components of this challenge take no time at all. It’s really more of an awareness thing. All of this information is based off his excellent book The Happiness Advantage (affiliate link)

5 2 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

[…] HERE the Article to increased happiness! […]

Barbara

just watched PBS and i am so excited to be thinking about being happier immediately…

Frank Klucznik

I can tell you from firsthand experience the Happiness Advantage really does work! After reading the book it showed me a repeatable process I could use to teach the Happiness Advantage to others. So I started teaching it to my college students, and over the past year I’ve seen it turn peoples’ life around and even benefit whole families who adopted it!

In fact, I’m so convinced it’s that good that I started a movement to give away The Happiness Advantage book to strangers as a random act of kindness. Through private funding and the small donations from strangers, we will give away 365 books this year (for FREE) and hope to double that number next year. This is my way of spreading the Happiness Advantage, and helping others with a desire to improve their lives. Check out the movement’s website and let us know what you think: ShareTheAdvantage.org.

Ben Q Livneh

I would love to receive a copy!

Vicky Claypoole

AWESOME!!!!

rebeccaannafaubion

I have found this principle to be absolutely true! I have found love/affirmation/happiness to be a terrific motivator and achievement booster. In both the position of being a teacher/leader, and the position of being a student/employee, I have found that joy and affirmation produces inner strength and creativity.

patttimlin

I know I’m really late to this game but I recently discovered and loved The Happiness Advantage. Did you complete your challenge? How did you do? I’d like to take the challenge on now!

Christine Bissonnette

When I originally posted this, I had the intention of doing it, but I never committed. I am ready to make the commitment coming up. I’ll be starting the 21 Day Challenge on March 9th if you need motivation! Did you try it?

Transbutter

Starting today!

[…] 21-Day Challenge: The Happiness Advantage […]

[…] is not the actual experiment from the book. Her experiment has more to do with what Shawn Achor explains in his book The Happiness […]

[…] think next month I might do this.  Anyone with […]

[…] 21 Day Happiness Challenge […]

[…] read more about this here. […]

[…] believe the positive side will occur, more often than not, it will. There was a 21 day challenge- 21 day challenge: The Happiness Advantage – The Positivity Project and the people that I spoke to that stuck to the challenge did find their lives and attitudes […]

Jill Abel

I would love to start this challenge, but it’s really hard when you work in an atmosphere that causes negativity and stress, by “adults” in management. But I’m going to try to find the book and try the challenge to see if it helps…thank you for sharing..

[…] More details on the challenge can be found on the-positivity-project.com. […]

19
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x