** Books mentioned have Amazon or Bookshop affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.
Shawn Achor, founder of Good Think, Inc., and author of the book, The Happiness Advantage, gives a fabulous and funny talk at TEDx Bloomington, on The Happy Secret to Better Work. His research shows that happiness is not a consequence of success, rather success is a consequence of happiness. At point 6:22 he says,
It’s not reality that shapes us, but the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. If we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, but we change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.
Doesn’t that blow your mind!
Happiness is not dependent on the external world but on the way your brain processes the world. The fact is, everyone performs better when they are feeling positive and happy. He suggests the following ways to increase positivity.
- 3 Gratitudes (per day)
- Journalling (about a positive experience)
- Exercise
- Meditation
- Random Acts of Kindness
I believe that practicing photography and expanding the way you see can produce the same results. In week 1 of my last Photo By Design online workshop, we were focusing on light. That’s it – just noticing the ever-changing light, how it falls on things, how it creates shadows or lights something up. One participant wrote that week,
I feel like I am 12 with my first camera! On Friday a.m. while swimming, I noticed a lacy shimmering light pattern on the bottom of the pool. These observations must stimulate neural pathways in a widespread manner as I felt great all week and really enjoyed the kids (his patients).
Brene Brown, in her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, writes this about photography.
I even took up photography. It might sound cliche, but the world doesn’t look the same to me anymore. I see beauty and potential everywhere – in my front yard, at a junk store, in an old magazine – everywhere. ~ Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection