Happiness is an invigorating emotion that involves being satisfied and contented. Shawn Achor’s book The Happiness Advantage, circles the beneficial factors of happiness and how to obtain it. Achor focuses on the benefits of thinking positively versus thinking negatively. Through 7 principals, Achor explains how each contributed to happiness and how they effect our mindset to think. Due to how we think, the results of our happiness can be altered.
By constant reference back to the ability of thinking positively, Anchor reminds us that how we think of the world and how our mindset is placed can alter the way our happiness is built. Correlating one’s stress level to their happiness, Achor often referred to Harvard Law students as he observed them during his time at the school. With his observations, Achor ruled that Harvard students were initially ecstatic at their approval into the school but once they actually started attending the school their stress levels would be high and their happiness level would be low. The reason for this, according to Shawn Achor, is that students began to think about all their stress, their competition, and their risk of falling below Harvard’s high average. It’s this negative outlook that clouds the students’ happiness meter. By looking at their problems in a negative light, the stress builds in their brain and stresses them out further. However, if they were to think positively and utilized the assets of positive psychology, their happiness should get a bit of a boost. Achor believes that just by thinking about their problems positively, their happiness can improve because there aren’t as many factors that stresses them out. A person’s level of happiness depends on the person’s state of mind and out they process the world. Do they think about everything negative and failing or positive and successful. Achor says that positivity can lead to more success and happiness.
- Raqsmey Kong
I agree with what Achor is saying about students starting off something with a lot of excitement and energy, but once they realize the amount of work they have to do in order to stay in the activity or class,they tend to become stressed and anxious. For example, in APUSH everyone was very excited to take the class but now everyone is very stressed about completing the unit assignment and trying to score high enough on tests to get an A in the class. If we listen to what Achor is saying and begin thinking positively about the class instead of stressing ,we might be able to enjoy the class more and not worry about everything.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with what this book has to say. Thinking positively really helps make those dark cloud go away, especially when it comes to school and the stress of everyday life. If we were to always think negative thoughts, like failure, we would never get anything done because of the fear of letting ourselves or others down. Positive thoughts I believe are what pushes us to do better and take risks, whether they may bring us success or failure. If we were ever to feel scared of taking action because of the negative thoughts, we could later on have regrets that would bring more negativity within us. So thinking that we can and we can, it can really bring us great results and happiness.
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