When we flip the formula and cultivate positivity first , our brains become more engaged, creative, resilient, and productive. This is what Achor calls the “Happiness Advantage.” Below are the seven core principles that show you how to unlock it. The principle: Positive brains have a biological advantage over neutral or negative brains. When you are in a positive state, dopamine (a neurotransmitter) floods your system, which activates the learning centers of your brain. This makes you 31% more productive, more accurate at tasks, and better at problem-solving than when you are in a negative state.
The “Third-Person Journal” method: Write down a negative event that happened today. Then, write down advice you would give a friend in the exact same situation. This creates psychological distance, reduces emotional flooding, and reveals constructive paths forward. 5. The Zorro Circle The principle: When you feel overwhelmed, your brain shuts down. The Zorro Circle is named after the fictional hero, who, when first learning to swordfight, was forced to draw a small circle in the dirt. He had to master that tiny circle before expanding outward. The lesson: regain control by focusing on small, manageable goals. The Happiness Advantage- The Seven Principles o...
We chase the promotion, the pay raise, the degree, or the deadline, believing that happiness is a destination just beyond the next achievement. But according to Harvard-trained researcher Shawn Achor, we have it exactly backwards. When we flip the formula and cultivate positivity