If you ’re not a instinctive Pollyanna , take heart . “ enquiry shows that change is possible , even if you ’ve had the same mindset since you were 10 years one-time , ” says happiness research worker Shawn Achor , principal ofGoodThinkand author ofThe Happiness Advantage . “When it comes to thing like pessimism , factor may play a function , but they ’re not the end of the story . ”
Willing yourself to be more optimistic probably wo n’t get you very far , but focusing on what you ’re thankful for can shift your outlook , he says .
Not sure where to start ? “ endeavor to mean of three new things you ’re happy about while brush your tooth at night , ” Achor says . The wordnewis of import — if you let yourself repeat items , you might default to some edition of “ family , friends , and health ” every twenty-four hour period . But if you have to come in up with three fresh , specific reasons to be happy or thankful , your brain will naturally start earn genial notes of things you could admit in your lean throughout the daytime .
And all that scanning for silvery linings and unexpected kindness and mo of joy ? Well , that ’s fundamentally the dispute between a pessimist and an optimist . In fact , when Achor and his squad asked a mathematical group of mild pessimist to try the substance abuse for 21 day , then re - quiz their outlooks with a shelling of psychological trial run , they found most people in the group tested as mild optimists . “ you could do this with 4 - year - old tyke or 84 - twelvemonth - old adults , ” says Achor . “ Even a one - minute of arc happiness habit can begin to affect the other 24 hours in your mean solar day . ”
And if you take still more reason to pop flexing your gratitude when you reach for the toothpaste , consider this : Achor ’s enquiry demonstrate that people with a more electropositive outlook are 40 percentage more potential to get a promotion and report having more creativity and productive energy . As Achor says , “ Most people think happiness follows success , when really enthrone in your happiness now might be what helps you get there . ”
