I would like to invite you to join in on a 21-day journey to becoming a happier person. After watching a video of Shawn Achor speak at one of the TED Conferences titled: The Happy Secret to Better Work, I was moved to challenge myself to doing what he said. Achor is the CEO of Good Think Inc., where researchers study people who fall above the average, attempting to understand “where human potential, success and happiness intersect.” He helps organizations increase happiness, which in turn increases success and productivity. Well, we don’t have Shawn Achor himself coming to speak to us, but I have watched the video and done some research (and hopefully you’ve watched the video by now too?). What I am proposing is a 21-day challenge, based off of Achor’s research, to be happy In The Moment. Are you in!? If you are, then continue reading about what the next 21 days have in store for you!
Achor recites that we can reverse the formula for happiness and success. In our society, we tend to believe “If I am more successful, I’ll be happier” and so on. If we keep expecting too much out of life, will we ever appreciate what we have in the moment? Life should not be spent harping on the disappointments or fears of the future. Even research states that being happier in the moment is better for you; you are 31% MORE productive at happy then when at negative, neutral, or stressed. If we can learn to be positive in the moment, we can harp on the advantages happiness brings. Below is what needs to be done EVERY DAY for 21 days straight!
 In The Moment:
-Write down 3 gratitude’s each day (things you are grateful for!) This teaches our brain to scan for the positive rather than the negative first!
-Journal ONE positive thing that has happened to you within the last 24 hours. Who doesn’t want to relive something awesome?
– Exercise, which teaches your brain that activity matters. I’ll be lenient on this one… we can count walking to class!
-Meditation: this is done to get “over the cultural ADHD of doing multiple tasks at once” so that we can focus on just the task at hand. Don’t know how to meditate? Honestly, I haven’t done it seriously either, but google helps! I like this site  for meditation instructions but I encourage you to find something you like if this doesn’t work for you!
– Random acts of kindness: Praise or thank someone for what they have done for you, hold the door open for a stranger, do something each day that is a conscious act of kindness!
Can you do it? We are young and have so much life ahead of us, why rush it!? If you’d like to join me on the In The Moment challenge, we are starting this Sunday, October 7th. Check the blog every Sunday for updates and leave comments along the way about how you are feeling! GOOD LUCK! Let’s create lasting positive change!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
SPARKS@Elon 