Most of us were conditioned to believe if we become successful, then we’ll be happy—when we find the perfect mate, land that great job, lose those extra ten pounds, then happiness will show up on our doorstep.
According to research, the reverse is more accurate. Happiness actually fuels success, not the other way around.
When you make a choice to be positive, your brain becomes more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive—which leads to greater levels of happiness and success.
Happiness isn’t just a mood—it is a work ethic.
Amazingly, when you hold a positive mindset, your brain has an incredible power to filter out the negative in order to bring more positive events to your attention—providing even more reasons to be happy and optimistic.
Here are some actions that can raise your levels of happiness:
- Plan something you look forward to
- Treat others with kindness
- Surround yourself with positive people
- Exercise regularly
- Spend money on experiences, not stuff
- Master a skill that you enjoy
- Find humor in everyday events (a great place to find some excellent humor is The New Yorker magazine