Positivity Key to Happiness at Work

How do you measure happiness at work? Many of us follow this simple equation:

         work hard + work harder = success; success = happiness!

The only problem with that is it’s pretty difficult to remain or obtain happiness when our work goals are consistently changing. For example, let’s say you’ve been performing so well that you are promoted to a new position. Once in that position, you now have to prove that you can perform the responsibilities of that position. Based on the way we measure happiness, if you felt happy about the promotion at one point, odds are it lasted only as long as it took you to dive into the new, more daunting workload.

Shawn Achor, CEO of Good Think, Inc. and professor at Harvard University, lectures on this thing called ‘positive psychology’. According to Achor we can improve happiness at work by simply changing the way we think.

“[It’s] 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, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.”

In his studies, Achor found that 75% of job success is predicted by optimism levels, social support and your ability to see success as a challenge instead of a threat. Having a positive mindset will actually lead to improved intelligence, creativity and energy.

So how do we foster this positivity? Achor encourages us to perform positive acts each day including:

• Random acts of kindness


• Keeping Gratitude journal


• Exercising regularly


• and Meditating

Take twelve minutes out of your day to watch Achor’s hilarious and informative TedTalk below. It may just put a little (or a big) smile on your face.