Happiness is...

Finding a pencil, and oh so much more. For our professional development seminar at Grace today, scientist and psychological researcher Shaun Achor from Harvard University spoke to us about positive psychology, happiness, success, and everything in between.

I went into the meeting feeling genuinely happy about life (who wouldn't be when they get to wear jeans to work?!) and left feeling... the need for change. Epic, I know. Though the five-hour presentation was a bit much to sit through, it really made me deconstruct what I know to be success and happiness, and how one does not necessarily lead to the other. As I sat there, I had moment after moment of self-realization. And I share...

- I tend to create goal posts that are consistently being pushed farther back. I will be happy if I get an A. I will be happy if I get this job. I will be happy if I save this much money. Keep pushing the if back, and I'll be 95 and still "unhappy" by my own standards. Strike one.

- I know what I want to do, but don't often do it. I want to take dance classes. I want to see my friends more often. I want to read more books. It's the hurtle of starting, which is not as easy as settling. Strike two.

- I've spend my life weighing happiness and self-worth on success. Good grades = good college = good job = good money = good life = happiness. Wrong. Those things are important, of course, but it's a flawed formula. There are so many other variables in the mix that I've failed to really recognize. Strike three.

Now, Shaun recommended making a "habit chart." According to certain studies, if you do something routinely for 21 days, it becomes a habit. I'm not going to go so far as to create an excel spreadsheet and post it on my wall to glare at me everyday, but here are some goals I'm going to try out. We'll see what sticks.

- Exercise. One of the five most recommended things to make you happier. I'm trying the "before-work-workout" tomorrow morning at 5am (Wish me luck). No matter the time of day, I want to go at least four times a week and take one dance class a week.

- Journaling. Another one of the five. Not taking it in the literal diary sense, I'm going to count "active blogging" as my documented release. Expect updates, my friends.

- Reading. I love reading. Why don't I do it more often? Because the TV remote is so close, and watching House takes much less energy than reading John Irving. But screw energy, bring on the books. At least a half hour each night.


So there you have it, folks, the road to my own personal happiness. Have I been brainwashed by a motivational speaker? Quite possibly. But positive change can only yield positive results, even if they are short-lived. I found today to be quite inspiring and meditive time for self-refleciton. Here are some clips of Shaun's speech, if you're even a tad intrigued...