why happiness is the new productivity , page-2

Brilliant. Thanks for that!
It seems like his ideas are completely lacking in most corporations.

The concepts align with recent discoveries about human happiness vs misery/sadness that I've seen recently. (Sorry, I can't remember the specific source.)

Only in the last decade or so have psychologists discovered that you cannot make someone happy by making them 'less sad'. (Something that clinical psychologists have traditionally focussed on for centuries.) Removing elements of misery and sadness in someone's life only brings a person back to 'normal'. (Hence, money and medication only goes so far on the way to improving people's lives from depression.)

Becoming 'happy' in itself takes further efforts that have little to do with money. The balance of happiness and sadness are like two separate systems in our brains, each system of which require attention to remain healthy.

The three extras requird to build happiness longer term to bring life from normal to great are:

1) a passion or joy. Hopefully something that allows creation and 'flow' (as talked about in the video). A joy or passion (of say, a new car or 'toy') only lasts for a short time before requiring an additional 'joy booster'. Creation and purpose for flow activity lasts.

2) a feeling of valued contribution toward community OR a strongly held cause/belief (this doesn't mean you need loads of friends or human contact)

3) future goal(s) and vision for the next step (ie: never standing still).

If you have all of these, you should be truly 'happy and content'.




nb: I am not a professional on the subject of mental care so this is not advice, just something I recall hearing!