Is there one? You bet, and you can get more of it just by noticing what makes you happy.
Chronic Stress has an Opposite – and You Need It
You heard it here first folks. We all know that our amygdala fires during stress, sending chemicals through our system and triggering fight or flight responses. (If this is a new idea, check out my blog, here. ) But did you know, that there is a chemical response that fires when you’re happy that has its own evolutionary explanation?
Check out Barbara Fredrickson’s website. She coined the phrase ‘Broaden and Build’ to stand for the process that happens when serotonin and dopamine flood our brains. We know happiness feels good, but it also creates an evolutionary advantage– the ability to see broader concepts, be more creative, curious and social.
So What?
I’ll give you so what. So, people who are relaxed and positive engage in seeking, exploration and play. They build resources that can be drawn on later and that, helps them during times of stress and trouble.
Think about it. Imagine you’re living in a hunter-gatherer society. If you’re not running from cougars or out killing bison, assume you’re hanging around with other tribe members, picking out the odd blackberry or two and just chillin’. Being able to creatively figure out something to do with that rock you just chipped a flake off of by kicking it … might lead to arrowheads. Being curious and open to exploration might pay off later by having a good mental map of the area. Either of those could be the difference between life and death.
Fast Forward to Today
Why does this matter? If you are spending your days viewing the work environment as a hostile place, then your brain will automatically send out chemicals that narrow your focus. During times of stress, we didn’t need to be wandering around exploring, fiddling with rock chips and bonding with tribe members. No way. We needed to be watching for big predators and getting ready to run, or fight, or hide. See that? If you’re stressed, focusing on your main project will be harder, you will be more easily distracted and you’ll have a hard time seeing the big picture or making creative leaps.
If you are spending your days viewing your work environment as a place that lets you provide for your family (gratitude), a place where you get to tackle challenges (interest) and a place where you do something meaningful (pride), if you’re happy and engaged, then your brain is going to send out the explore and expand chemicals. And that means it will be easier for you to find answers to problems and devise solutions to those pesky issues like how to control emails.
AND…
It’s more likely you’ll go home on time.
What? How did I make that leap you ask?
Well… think about it. If you can see the big picture, you’re more likely to put work into perspective and consider your family and other life enhancing activities as important.
If you can make creative leaps, you’re going to be faster at solving problems, and if you’re happier, you just get to work. It’s true.
Every one of my clients that explores the difference in their behavior when they are negative and stressed versus when they are happy comes to the same conclusion – when they are happy, they work faster. Better yet, they discover that if they are happy, it results in better outcomes for everyone around them, including their employer. But don’t take my word for it, research bears this out too. Check out “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor if you don’t believe me.
Here’s the best news of all… getting happier is as easy as training your brain to scan for positive things in your environment. That’s right. Find three things that bring you joy every day and you’ll raise your overall happiness. Simple. Could be a hug from your kid, a great meal or a divine sunset. Scanning for, and finding, joy can start you on the path.
If you would like to have some help changing your perspective on work, I can help with that. Book a free 25-minute session with me to find out how. And meanwhile, check out the book “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor.