Posted by Fitz Villafuerte under Mindsetting, Productivity on April 27, 2015
Of course, it is common sense to
believe that successful people often lead happy lives.
However, there is evidence that show
the reverse is also true – that people who are happy, are more
likely to succeed in life.
In 2005, a team from the University of
California Riverside, led by psychologist Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, found
out through experimental studies that happiness can, in fact, lead to success.
In their experiment, they induced
participants with positive and negative moods and compared their behavior in
various situations. And what they found out were these:
1. Happy people are not afraid to talk to
other people and actually enjoy social interactions. This helps
them expand their network easily and potentially connect to someone who can
bring them career and business opportunities.
2. People in a good mood can resolve
conflicts effectively. They are more open to new ideas, and would most
likely be willing to collaborate rather than destructively compete.
3. When you feel good, you tend to be more
creative and productive. You can perform complex tasks better, which
certainly helps in finding solutions to the various problems we encounter in
life.
4. Happy people have improved
self-efficacy. This means they are more confident about their skills and
abilities and are not easily discouraged by minor setbacks.
The study has a
lot of other interesting findings about the connection of success and
happiness. But the list above should be enough to convince you that if you want
to increase your chances of being successful in life, then you have to choose
to be a positive and happy person.
Choosing Happiness
When you’re faced with a mountain of
debt, working in a stressful job that you hate, and barely making ends meet –
how can you be happy?
Actually, you can – by choosing to be
happy.
According to Professor Lyubomirsky,
roughly 40 percent of our happiness is within our control. And several other
research in the field of positive psychology has a similar conclusion: happiness
is a choice that anyone can make.
As psychologist William James once
said:
The greatest discovery of any
generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude.
But how exactly do you choose to be
happy?
Here are seven
scientifically proven ways:
1. Listen to music.
Listen to upbeat music, especially those with happy and inspirational lyrics. Your mood will slowly elevate.
Listen to upbeat music, especially those with happy and inspirational lyrics. Your mood will slowly elevate.
2. Interact more with positive people.
Have a few minutes of conversation with someone cheerful and happy. You will feel lighter and less stressed.
Have a few minutes of conversation with someone cheerful and happy. You will feel lighter and less stressed.
3. Linger on simple pleasures.
Focus on the positive moments that you experience everyday such as that fresh breeze you felt, that satisfying meal you ate, or that thoughtful message you received from a friend.
Focus on the positive moments that you experience everyday such as that fresh breeze you felt, that satisfying meal you ate, or that thoughtful message you received from a friend.
4. Learn how to meditate.
University of Wisconsin psychology professor Richard Davidson found in his research that meditation helps in shifting brain activity towards feelings of happiness and joy.
University of Wisconsin psychology professor Richard Davidson found in his research that meditation helps in shifting brain activity towards feelings of happiness and joy.
5. Find a reason to smile.
Look at a picture of your loved ones. Listen to a funny joke. Watch a feel-good movie. There are a lot of ways to make yourself smile, and laugh. Do it often.
Look at a picture of your loved ones. Listen to a funny joke. Watch a feel-good movie. There are a lot of ways to make yourself smile, and laugh. Do it often.
6. Have a gratitude journal.
Wright State University School of Medicine professor and psychiatrist Randy Sansone found in a study that cultivating thankfulness can increase the well-being of a person.
Wright State University School of Medicine professor and psychiatrist Randy Sansone found in a study that cultivating thankfulness can increase the well-being of a person.
7. Help others.
There are lots of scientific research that support this. One of them is by University of Rochester psychologist Richard Ryan who says that compassion for others produces a positive emotional effect to the giver.
There are lots of scientific research that support this. One of them is by University of Rochester psychologist Richard Ryan who says that compassion for others produces a positive emotional effect to the giver.
Be Happy. Be Successful.
A lot of people delay their happiness
until they are successful.
They wait until they are able to
achieve their goals before they allow themselves to feel good about life.
They focus on success so much that
they permit stress and anxiety to run their lives.
But as written above, you can choose
to be happy today regardless of your circumstance – and by doing so, success
becomes more possible for you.
So always remember to work hard for
your dreams, but don’t ever forget to smile.
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