“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.” ~Martha Washington

In his TED talk, Shawn Achor says “90% of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way your brain processes the world.”   We are certainly wired to never be satisfied, but this phenomenon drives our advancement, for better or worse.  We hope for things because we think we’ll feel better in the having of it, whether it be material, or a relationship, or warmer weather.  And yet, when that goal or desire is reached, we are once again looking for the next desire; when we reach the goal, we move the goal post.

But these desires live in our “external world” where happiness is temporary.

Further along in his talk, he reveals a simple remedy for training our brains to be happy regardless of our circumstances.  He says that if we practice the following for 2 min. each, 21 days in a row, we’ll begin to feel a lasting effect; “small changes ripple outward.”

• Write down 3 things you are grateful for. (your brain begins to retain a pattern)
• Journal about 1 positive experience that occurred over the last 24 hrs. (allows your brain to re-live it)
• Exercise (this teaches your brain that your behavior matters)
• Meditation (allows relief from the “cultural ADHD” of multitasking)
• Random Acts of Kindness  (write one positive email praising or thanking someone)

Try these for 2 min, 21 days in a row and train your brain to be happy, regardless of circumstances.  🙂

 

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