Video: Positive psychology - The Happy Secret to Better Work

The traditional formula for happiness states that you should pick a career and work hard at it. If you work hard enough, you will be successful, and ultimately this success will lead to happiness. However, according to positive psychology, as stated through Shawn Achor’s theory for happiness, this formula is flawed. Human nature is such that, with every accomplishment, our definition of success expands as we seek to achieve greater success. Because our happiness is tied to our success, the fact that the target for success is constantly changing makes it impossible to realize long-lasting happiness. Achor argues that, in order to find true happiness, we need to reverse this formula. By engaging in work and activities that bring us happiness simply for the fact that we are doing them, we remove the requirement to attain a specific level of success, thus creating a “happiness advantage”. Achor’s findings have shown that, when operating in a positive state, our brains are 30% more productive than when in a negative or stressed state. In order to create a positive state of mind, it is important to engage in work and activities that speak to our internal motivations and values. Multiple studies of successful people have repeatedly shown that the most consistent factor for success is having passion for the work that we carry out. Most people don’t find their true life’s passion by the end of high school. In fact, many do not find it until much later in life, if at all. This is why, at MentorU, we believe so strongly that young adulthood is a critical time to take action in an effort to uncover your unique potential.

The Happy Secret to Better Work