Episode Details

“I think happiness in great times is a luxury item. I think, right now, optimism, happiness becomes one of those essentials - the necessities that we absolutely need.” – Shawn Achor

 How can we be happy, even in challenging times? In this episode, Brian interviews happiness expert Shawn Achor to discover how we can create happiness, spread it to other people and use it as an advantage in our lives. Topics discussed include how a crisis can deepen our social bonds and give us meaning, how people can understand their own potential and where potential, success and happiness intersect.

YOU WILL LEARN:

• How to process this crisis and have a happier and more productive outcome.
• How a shift in mindset and behavior can help you change course in difficult times.
• The five seeds of potential that help people thrive in crisis.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Buffini & Company MasterMind Summit

Shawn Achor’s TED Talk

PBS Special: The Happiness Advantage

“The Happiness Advantage,” by Shawn Achor

“Big Potential,” by Shawn Achor

“Mere Christianity,” by C.S. Lewis

“The Great Divorce,” by C.S. Lewis

Wilbur Smith, author

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:

“While it is unprecedented that we've never shut down the world because of a global pandemic ever, what isn't unprecedented is the fact that humans have gone through crises and overcome them.” – Shawn Achor

“What we have great precedent for is that humans overcome challenges and crises in the exact same way. Eventually, the turning point comes when people are able to raise their levels of optimism, social connection, refine the meaning that they have within their work, and be able to restart that forward progress.” – Shawn Achor

“People think happiness is connected to whimsy. This is a toughness. This is a determination. This is a resolve. It's a spirit. It's mind and heart.” – Brian Buffini

“I think people are going to become more grateful because convenience has been taken out of our life.” – Brian Buffini

“People are either going to get bitter or better at this time.” – Brian Buffini

“The mindset shift I'm hoping people make is not ‘How do I get out of this crisis myself? How do I hunker down? How do I solve this?’ But rather, ‘How do I create an interconnected pursuit of happiness and success within my life?’” – Shawn Achor

“The geometry of the challenges in your life are constantly in flux, based upon whether or not you think you're alone, or with other people overcoming a challenge.” – Shawn Achor

“I want to move away from a self-help approach to happiness.” – Shaw