When you think about the concept of happiness, you likely start to think about things you want and the feeling or sensation of being happy. You may also associate thoughts of happiness with peace of mind and contentment. But how often do you often think about the link between your happiness and your performance?
If you think about it, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s a link between your happiness and your ability to achieve peak performance.
Happiness as a Priority
Partly because we’re conditioned to think of happiness as a destination of sorts — some place we’ll get to — we all have a tendency to focus on other areas when looking to improve our performance. We’ll work harder and we’ll practice longer. Yet, in the absence of a positive mindset, much of this extra effort is wasted.
It’s when you’re able to relish and take pleasure in the extra effort itself that there is a noticeable difference in the quality of your performance. You are actually happier, typically because you are focused on a goal of some sort and you are experiencing a sense of accomplishment as you move towards it. You have purpose and you have momentum.
Happiness in the Workplace
Employers have understood this concept for years. They know that a happy employee makes for a productive employee. Businesses have gone to great lengths to implement employee satisfaction programs which allow them to measure and increase the overall satisfaction level in the workplace.
Yet for some reason, we tend to not hear much conversation about the importance of your happiness to your performance away from the workplace. Why is that? After all, the search for happiness and meaning is universal. So doesn’t it stand to reason that if you focus on improving your level of happiness, you will as a result improve your level of performance?
In fact, how can you possibly reach peak performance without it?
Mental and Physical Performance
Research shows that there are distinct physiological changes associated with happiness.
Happy people have heightened mental alertness, superior cognitive importance. Overall mental performance is better. You have more energy.
When you stop to think about it, this makes perfect sense. When you’re unhappy, you tend to be preoccupied with your problems, have difficulty concentrating, and are generally preoccupied and prone to distraction. This results in more mistakes and poorer decisions.
How can you perform at your best if you’re unhappy? You can’t.
In contrast, the simple act of laughing triggers a release of endorphins, lowers your blood pressure, increases your blood flow, increases the production of T cells thereby boosting your immune, and flexes numerous muscles throughout your body. These are simple physiological responses that contribute to better physical performance and better mental performance.
Would you like more information about the role happiness can play in improving your performance? I’ve co-written an entire program that reveals how easily you can begin to follow your dreams and experience true happiness, starting today. Sign up for my free introductory eCourse here: Life Happiness Secrets
Warren Wojnowski is an avid student of personal growth and self improvement. He is a respected writer, teacher and Intrinsic Coach® who is very willing to share what he’s learned (or still learning), what’s working, and what isn’t. Warren says “If you have an aspect of your life in which you feel stuck, whether in your life or your business, I can help you get back on track and start living the life you want”.
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