Does success drive happiness, or is it the other way around?

From the desk of Miles Everson: Welcome to “Mindfulness by Miles!” Every Friday, I talk about topics related to health, wealth, well-being, future of work, book reviews, and tips. My hope in these articles is to help you grow and excel in both your career and personal life. So, my question for today is: Are you HAPPY with your life right now? Whatever your answer to that question is, I encourage you to keep reading below. In today’s issue, we’ll tackle a book that will change the way you view happiness and success.

Does success drive happiness, or is it the other way around? In the bustling world of modern work and life, the pursuit of success often feels like a relentless race. —we strive for promotions, chase bigger paychecks, and seek the perfect work life and personal life balance, all under the assumption that success will bring us happiness. … but have you ever thought, “What if we’ve had it backward all along?” Author Shawn Achor’s groundbreaking book, “The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life,” turns conventional wisdom on its head, revealing that happiness is not just the result of success but also the very catalyst that propels us towards it. Rewriting the Narrative: Happiness as a Precursor to Success At the heart of Achor’s thesis is a simple yet revolutionary idea: Happiness fuels success. Drawing from his extensive research in positive psychology and his experiences at Harvard University, Achor demonstrates that a positive mindset enhances performance and productivity. In contrast to the traditional belief that success brings happiness, Achor posits that cultivating happiness can lead to greater success in both a person’s personal and professional life. He distills his findings into seven actionable principles, each designed to help individuals harness the power of positivity: The Happiness Advantage: Embracing positivity provides a biological edge, making people more productive, creative, and resilient. The Fulcrum and the Lever: By shifting their mindset (the fulcrum) and applying effort (the lever), individuals can change their reality and achieve more. The Tetris Effect: Training one’s brain to recognize patterns of opportunity and positivity helps a person become more successful. Falling Up: Turning adversity into a stepping stone paves the way for growth rather than a setback. The Zorro Circle: Regaining control in overwhelming situations is possible by focusing on and achieving small, manageable goals. The 20-Second Rule: Reducing barriers to change is doable through making positive habits easier to start and negative habits harder to sustain in the long run. Social Investment: Leveraging social connections is key to people’s overall happiness, success, and well-being. Wait! There’s more… Achor doesn’t stop at theory. In fact, he offers practical strategies and exercises that readers can implement immediately. From practicing gratitude and mindfulness to setting incremental goals and fostering social connections, these tools are designed to create lasting changes in a person’s mindset and behavior. For instance: Writing down three things you’re grateful for each day can rewire your brain to focus on the positive aspects of your life, setting off a chain reaction of benefits. Practical Strategies to Transform Your Everyday Life Personally, what I think sets “The Happiness Advantage” book apart is its strong foundation in scientific research. Achor presents compelling evidence from the fields of positive psychology and neuroscience to support his claims. What’s more? He enriches his narrative with real-life examples from his work with organizations, schools, and individuals! These anecdotes illustrate how the principles of this book can be applied to various contexts, such as from corporate boardrooms to classrooms, enhancing both individual and collective performances. I strongly encourage you to read this book! In a world that often emphasizes the grind over gratitude, “The Happiness Advantage” offers a refreshing and empowering perspective. By shifting your focus from success leading to happiness to happiness driving success, you’ll be able to unlock new levels of achievement and fulfillment. In other words… Achor’s book is not just a guide to personal development; it’s also a roadmap to transforming your approach to work and life! When you read “The Happiness Advantage,” you can be sure to walk away with: A New Mindset: Understanding that happiness is a precursor to success will change how you approach your goals. Actionable Techniques: Practical exercises and strategies that can be incorporated into your daily routine to foster a positive mindset. Inspiration and Motivation: Real-life stories and scientific evidence that will inspire and motivate you to make lasting changes in your life. Enhanced Well-being: Tools to improve your overall well-being, resilience, and productivity, leading to a more balanced and satisfying life. So, are you ready to unleash the power of positivity in your life and rethink the way you approach success and happiness? Stop waiting for success to bring you happiness! Dive into Achor’s “The Happiness Advantage” book now and discover how having a happy and positive mindset can fuel your journey to success. I hope you’ll all have a great and HAPPY day ahead! EXCITING NEWS AHEAD The world of work has shifted, and there’s no going back. The barriers to entry have never been lower for talented professionals to work independently, and today’s massive external workforce is hardly a pandemic-produced fad. Business owners can only survive in the new work landscape by partnering with this deep talent pool. With decades of experience in both small-business entrepreneurship and executive management at PwC, I truly believe that the future of work is independent. With that, I’m happy to share with you that my book, co-authored with Walter Scott Lamb, is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Free Birds Revolution: The Future of Work & The Independent Mind This is an essential read for both independent professionals and corporate executives. Here, we provide educational and practical guides to unpack the ever-growing workforce and offer you crucial ways to become a client of choice. Click on the link above to pre-order your copy. Let this book help you future-proof your career and organization in the new world of work.     For a daily version of this newsletter, please subscribe here.