Taken from 'How to Re-wire your Brain for Success' by: Janet Callaway.

A bold statement backed by science.

Shawn Achor, one of the world’s leading experts on human potential, researched the gap between the science of happiness and performance in everyday lives. In doing so, he found conventional thinking on the success formula is broken. (You can read about his research in detail in his book “The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology that Fuels Success and Performance at Work.”)

What he discovered is:

“. . . it’s the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.”

In the course of his study of positive psychology he realized that happiness fuels success. “When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work.”

For example, with your brain at positive, you are 31% more productive than with your brain at negative, neutral or stressed. You’re 37% better at sales. And, doctors are 19% faster, more accurate at coming up with the correct diagnosis when positive instead of negative, neutral or stressed.

Think what a difference it would be in all aspects of your life if you learned how to be positive in the present at all times, or at least most of the time. Fortunately, you can and it is not all that difficult. Towards the end of his talk he shares techniques that can be done in two minutes. Do them for 21 days in a row and you will rewire your brain allowing it to work more optimistically and successfully.

His research with companies around the world shows that at the end of 21 days, the brain develops a pattern of scanning for the positive first rather than the negative.

Though this talk is longer than I normally share, the time will fly by watching it. Shawn is a fantastic storyteller and a very fast talker. What a pleasure it must be for his students at Harvard to listen to his lectures. This talk is 12 minutes of entertainment, fascinating facts and actionable steps. Enjoy.