Four Habits for Workplace Happiness
By Angel L. Piñeiro
A business associate of mine, Jeff Olson, Founder and CEO of Nerium International, wrote about the daily habits for on-the-job happiness. He referenced a quote from psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, which said, “we need a three-to-one ratio of positive to negative experiences to flourish in life.” She also said that most of us “do not come close to hitting that mark.” Jeff mentioned, “happier people are more motivated, persistent and outperform negative people. Happy people are creative problem solvers, enjoy what they do and see more favorable outcomes.” He may surprise you by the simple things he said you can do to seek OTJ happiness. They include:
Practice gratitude: Countless studies show that being grateful helps your body, mind and soul. Keeping a daily journal and noting three things to be thankful for, and why, is the most effective method of practicing gratitude.
Use your strengths: One of the main tenets of positive psychology is focusing on what works and building from there. Maybe you are not a natural-born leader, but teamwork is more in tune with your strengths.
Be kind: Taking the time to help someone else, even if he is a stranger, is like giving a gift to yourself. Studies suggest that even thinking about an act of kindness can boost your mood.
Build strong relationships: Many people think entrepreneurs are lone mavericks blazing their own trails, but trust me, no one can do it alone. What I mean by this is that behind every successful person there are many people who are helping and who have helped along the way. Take the time to properly thank those people.