Thread: A Guide to Happiness

TEDxBloomington - Shawn Achor - "The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance" - YouTube
Amazon.com: The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work (9780307591548): Shawn Achor: Books

Tal Ben-Shahar - Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness | Video on PBS & NPR Forum Network
Online Courses

There you go ;p

Originally Posted by TimB

TEDxBloomington - Shawn Achor - "The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance" - YouTube

It's really strange that at one point in this talk, he seemed to be 'selling' happiness in terms of associated productivity benefits (happy people are more productive)... does happiness really need to be 'sold' (argued for), and even so why would you point to productivity benefits? It's like he's rounding out with a checklist for a complete modern argument, which seems to include some mention of implications for productivity... just to make sure you have something to say to everybody.

Nice presentation overall, just that one quirky thing caught my attention.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

Wrong. More stuff makes you happy. And when that doesn't work, you just need even more stuff.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

That's why god invented drugs

Somehow, this Guide To Happiness isn't making me happy.

Are you qualified?

Are you happy?

Originally Posted by melanieb

Somehow, this Guide To Happiness isn't making me happy.

Are you qualified?

Are you happy?

No, I am sad |:

That kitten has an ugly face.

Originally Posted by IndieAnthias

It's really strange that at one point in this talk, he seemed to be 'selling' happiness in terms of associated productivity benefits (happy people are more productive)... does happiness really need to be 'sold' (argued for), and even so why would you point to productivity benefits? It's like he's rounding out with a checklist for a complete modern argument, which seems to include some mention of implications for productivity... just to make sure you have something to say to everybody.

Nice presentation overall, just that one quirky thing caught my attention.

You're right, Shawn Achor does focus on the idea that happiness = productivity (happiness = profit) throughout his presentation. He stated multiple times in his presentation that he often gives presentations for schools and businesses. His TED Talk is exactly what he tells employers for his job. His suggestions for businesses are good, and some of them overlap with Tal Ben-Shahar's lessons. Yet his presentation tends to focus on the problems much more than the solutions.

Employers view people as assets; they need a financial reason to believe that happy employees are better employees. Otherwise, why would they waste that time and money on mental health programs, healthcare packages/insurance that cover more mental health needs, or a positive company culture? Archor raised valid points in his presentation, but his focus on productivity--a nicer word for profit--left a bad taste in my mouth. Businesses dehumanize topics like these so they can focus on money and not feel bad for the people affected by their decisions.

Originally Posted by TimB

TEDxBloomington - Shawn Achor - "The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance" - YouTube
Amazon.com: The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work (9780307591548): Shawn Achor: Books

Tal Ben-Shahar - Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness | Video on PBS & NPR Forum Network
Online Courses

There you go ;p

TimB, the links were very good. I particularly enjoyed the lecture by Tal Ben-Shahar. Lengthy, but it gives the proper amount of attention to the issue. As he said though, his six lessons were steps toward being happier rather than happy. If I had to pick one lesson that would lead to happiness, I feel that finding meaning and pleasure (and goals) in life would be most likely candidate. I essentially agree with Omnis Dei. Healthy relationships come in at a close second.

In the past couple of years, I had embodied all six of his lessons at certain points, and the rest of the times I had four or five. The only thing that made me truly satisfied with life was when I became part of an organization that gave me both pleasure and meaning. I was proud, motivated, and passionate because I had a higher goal to work toward that I felt was much greater than just myself or my loved ones. An individual can be happy without goals, but having goals that interests and inspires a person can give much greater meaning, and thus happiness, to life.

As Omnis Dei pointed out, such goals or desires lead to much more happiness when one enjoys the journey as well as achieving the result or desire.

Originally Posted by Caenis

That kitten has an ugly face.

YOU have an ugly face

Originally Posted by saltyseedog

YOU have an ugly face

happiness, personified

Originally Posted by saltyseedog

YOU have an ugly face

Maybe. I'd prefer to have my ugly human face than a furry flat face.

Originally Posted by Caenis

Maybe. I'd prefer to have my ugly human face than a furry flat face.

That was the most innocent kitten I could find. The rest was purring because food is being served soon or crying out of fear of being bathed.