My notes from a TED Talk by Shawn Achor, titled "The Happy Secret to Better Work"

My notes from a TED Talk by Shawn Achor, titled “The Happy Secret to Better Work”

Thesis: Happier, positive brains work better:

• When we become “positive in the present”, our brains work better
• “Happiness advantage”: brain “at positive” performs much better than at negative, neutral, or stressed
• Reverse the formula: find how to become positive in the present
• Dopamine floods your system when you’re positive; has two functions:
  • makes you happier
  • turns on the learning centers in your brain

You can re-wire your brain in 21 days:

• 3 gratitudes - write down 3 new things grateful for; brain starts to retain a pattern of gratitude
• journaling - one positive experience over the last 24 hours; helps you re-live it
• exercise - teach your brain that behavior matters
• meditation - get over cultural ADHD
• RAKs - write one positive email (or more)

Summary: train your brain just like your body.

The talk is here on TED.com.