The Science of Happiness (YES~ There Is Such A Thing!)

The man's name is Shawn Achor. And he's all about happiness. His class, Positive Psychology, is the most popular (and widely chosen) class at Harvard University, where more than 1000 students attend (his class) each semester. That's no drop in the hat, if you consider the many classes available and the student body in general. So what makes this class and it's professor so popular?

Apparently, the studies have proven that our brains are "elastic" and we CAN rewire them. They've also shown that when given tasks, whether it's a panel of physicians or a group of 5 year olds, those who begin the task by first thinking of a happy moment or thought, complete said task not only faster but much more efficiently than those who attempt the task in any other mental state. In other words, if you're happy before you do anything, whatever you're doing is going to work out better, all the way around.

Now, I've put this in the very simplest terms, so as not to bore you with scientific terminology. However, while my simplistic version may sound elementary, the science of happiness seems to be anything but. In fact, it appears that should more people get tuned in to this dandy philosophy, there may well be a whole new generation of humankind wandering the planet. If we were to use the information Shawn provides, and use it DAILY, our lives would certainly be more fulfilling, more satisfying, more FUN!

A little more about Shawn and the course description, FYI:
(courtesy of Harvard)

Course Description:

In our increasingly modern and even luxurious world, why aren't wealth and success translating into greater happiness? Depression rates in the United States are currently eight times higher than they were during the Great Depression, and that's just one measure of our society's mental health. Positive Psychology is an emerging branch in social psychology that attempts to answer this paradox. Researchers in this field are also investigating whether there is a way of living and thinking that can lead not only to increased happiness, but also to a longer, healthier life. Whereas traditional psychology explores the abnormally bad or merely the average, positive psychology looks at the "growing tip" of the curve-the most happy and the most successful-to figure out what can be learned from them. This lecture examines the latest research and discoveries in the field, and explores some of the techniques that incorporate positive psychology and can lead to increased happiness and health.

Shawn Achor is the winner of over a dozen distinguished teaching awards at Harvard University. Indeed, Achor is the Head Teaching Fellow for the most popular course at Harvard, Positive Psychology, which is led by Professor Tal Ben-Shahar. Over 1,000 students a semester have signed up for the course. Beyond Positive Psychology, Achor has taught in four academic departments at Harvard, including courses in Psychology of Leadership, Personality Psychology and Business, and Human Sexuality. After receiving his BA from Harvard in English and earning a Masters from Harvard Divinity School in Christian and Buddhist Ethics, Achor has synthesized his understanding of rhetoric, religion and ethics into the field of psychology, where he is currently finishing his PhD in social psychology at Tufts. Indeed part of Achor's interest in positive psychology stems from the fact that studies have shown many of Harvard's undergrads suffer, at one time or another, from depression while at school. As a freshman advisor and proctor on the Harvard campus, Achor has seen this experience firsthand.

I don't know about you, but it sounds to me like we could all use a refresher with Shawn Achor. And even if you're not into going to Harvard, you can take his one day seminar, which he does throughout the year. There are also a few videos on YouTube you can watch, to get an idea of how wonderful this man truly is. Most certainly worth your time!

Here's to your own development of happiness! And may you always remember that it's a CHOICE!