TEDxBloomington - Shawn Achor - 'The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance'

Shawn Achor is the winner of over a dozen distinguished teaching awards at Harvard University, where he delivered lectures on positive psychology in the most popular class at Harvard.

His research and lectures on happiness and human potential have received attention in The New York Times, Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, as well as on NPR and CNN Radio, and he travels around the United States and Europe giving talks on positive psychology to Fortune 500 corporations, schools, and non-profit organizations.

Achor graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a BA in English and Religion and earned a Masters degree from Harvard Divinity School in Christian and Buddhist ethics.

Now he is the CEO of Aspirant, a Cambridge-based consulting firm which researches positive outliers-people who are well above average-to understand where human potential, success and happiness intersect. Based on his research and 12 years of experience at Harvard, he clearly and humorously describes to organizations how to increase happiness and meaning, raise success rates and profitability, and create positive transformations that ripple into more successful cultures.

In Shawn's TEDxBloomington presentation, he says that most modern research focuses on the average, but that "if we focus on the average, we will remain merely average." He wants to study the positive outliers, and learn how not only to bring people up to the average, but to move the entire average up.

About TEDx In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxBloomington, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxBloomington event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

[maya]

I was required to watch this for an English assignment about a month ago... I find myself coming back to it all the time. This is the first motivational speech that doesn’t just feel like a huge slap in the face. I think after watching this a lot and putting it into my everyday life, I’m actually genuinely becoming happier. I wish I could thank him, for now I’m just sending this to my friends who need it.

[cybermollusk]

I actually felt better watching this. He actually gives real advice and isn't patronizing. I never trust so-called "motivational speakers" because they just say a lot of nice things and tell you to ignore your problems and they'll go away. This guy actually has research and practical advice.

[sailorswhispers]

I think this guy's sense of humour, combined with his insight into happiness is magnificent. Truly a wonderful speaker. Cheers!

[ds]

Best Ted Talk I've ever watched, the guy is so charismatic and energetic with his lecture, although very complex he broke his subject into a really straight forward way.

[craigparrott]

I play this video for my 8th grade students every year. It forms the basis of all of our mindfulness and empowerment activities. Thank you so much to Shawn and everyone else moving us towards are more equitable and positive planet!

[hiiiroobee]

I watched this 7 years ago and it changed my outlook in life. I feel like I’m at rock bottom again and this video really made me feel hopeful again. We need more people like Shawn in our lives 🥲

[Jennifer-qctq]

I've watched this so many times since I found it 5 years ago. It's impact is incredible.

[sharadaprasad]

Revisiting this video after 8 years. Went through philosophies and what not and searching for happiness. The simplicity of this video was all I needed.

[shaunaribnikar]

I like how he explains things and is real about it. He says as a society we believe that we have to be successful to bring us happiness and that we keep continuing to push happiness over the horizon like its unreachable. I agree with this 100%

[danieljohnstun]

I tried to follow this advice after being purposeless and sad for 4 years. It worked for me and I couldn't be more grateful.

[pagusmusic]

Acts of kindness, exercise, meditation and 3 gratitudes are part of my routines now - love it 😍

[barbaralennahightower]

This should be taught in every school, every business, every community.

[amitkapur]

I watch this weekly. This never gets old and it works. So good.

[amandahaller]

Thanks for speaking at BBBSA conference, I’ve read and listened to your work prior but hearing you was an amazing reminder and gave me the chance to share your findings, knowledge, perspective with my loved ones and coworkers 😊

[paoloernesto]

Now, at 40, I realize that I intuitively practice some of what he says. Before, I was more anxious than I'm today. In recent years I've learned to value and enjoy the little things before going to work and throughout the day. I start reading in the bathroom and then take a strong shower. I travel with my headphones listening to my pods. At work I take some breaks to have a coffee and talk to my colleagues. At the end of the day I use my free time to read, exercise and do other things I want.

[MisterHild]

Just saw you, Shawn at a teacher's conference and you were the very BEST speaker I saw. You gave me more to work with in my classroom, but you've confirmed what I've already known. The key to a learning experience is joy. Thank you, Shawn, thank you for the joy you gave me.

[JayArceo_]

"It's not necessarily the reality that shapes us but the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality". YUSSS

[jakekress]

"That's not wellness week, that's a sickness week." Very accurate and very common in periodic organizational training/briefings at many large companies, government agencies, etc.

[redpanda]

What a great speech! Shawn was interesting and funny! All TED talks should be like this.

[andrewfong]

Still waiting for the day we get to hear Ted himself speak