High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset - 350: 3 Myths of Happiness

Episode Date: June 29, 2020

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” Marcus Aurelius We are not born happy or unhappy. In fact, up to 40% of our happiness can be changed by engaging in daily, intentional activities that impact how we act and think (see Sonya Lyubomirsky’s cool studies!). We can try to be happier which elevates our mood, and when we are happier, we are more productive, creative, engaged, live longer, and enjoy the relationships with our family and friends more. This week, choose happiness, my friends!   This week’s Power Phrase:  “I choose happiness. Happiness is inside of me at any time!”  

Hi, friends. My name is Dr. Sindhra Kampoff, a national leader in the field of sport and performance psychology. Every week, I'm on the local radio sharing my top tips on exactly how to develop the mindset of the world's best so you can accomplish all your dreams. Get ready for a jammed, packed episode focused on practical tips to help you get after your goals and step out of your comfort zone. Let's go. We're talking about the three myths of happiness with Dr. Sundar Kampoff this morning. What inspired the topic today? Well, this week I was working on writing my new book, which is fun, and I was reviewing the research about what makes people happy, and it was really surprising. I think now more than ever, it's just really important for us to be connected with what makes us happy. And why do you think it's important for

us to know about being happy? Well, so the research suggests that happy people have some key traits. So they perform at a higher level. They're more productive and creative. They're actually grittier. So they go after their goals with more of a commitment. But they live longer. They have stronger immune systems, and they are more connected with those people who they really love. So they're family and friends. So if happiness is connected to all of that, I think we want to learn more about what makes people actually happy. So what's important for us to remember about happiness? So one of the books I really like is called The How of Happiness, and it's by

Sonia Lubernowski. And her research over 25 years suggests that 40% of our happiness is actually within our power. And it can simply be by the way that we think and act. And a really small percentage, like 10%, actually comes from our life circumstances or a situation like how much money we have or if we're happy or if we're married or divorced. So that means up to 40% of our happiness can be changed just by engaging in daily activities and really about how we think and act. So do we have, we have myths of, correct? What like what is a myth of happiness? So one myth is a myth really is about like maybe what you think is true, but not. And it really a myth for the first myth is happiness can be found or must be found. And happiness really isn't found.

It's really within our reach. And if 40% of our happiness comes from really our intentional thoughts and actions, we have the power to change our happiness and by focusing on what's inside of us and the strategies to help us be happier. What's another myth of happiness? Well, that happiness lies by changing things around you or your circumstances. So a lot of people might say, well, I'll be happy when or if. Or sometimes we can think about the past and think about a time we were really happy or wish for us to be happier. But really the strategies are inside of us. We just have to notice what makes us happy. And the last myth of happiness? So you either have happiness or you don't, but it's actually, it's not something we're born with. We can teach ourselves to be

happier. And just by simply trying and working to be happier, it elevates our mood. So I think what we can do is make a choice to be happier this week. I hope we make a good choice this week. How do you summarize today for us? I would say we are not born happy or unhappy. In fact, up to 40% of our happiness can be changed just by engaging in daily intentional activities. And so just by trying to be happier, it actually elevates our mood. And we want to be happier because that helps us be more productive and creative, engage and live longer. So we have a power phrase this week that we had through Monday with I choose happiness. Happiness is inside me at any point. Oh,

I hope we choose happiness on a Monday. Sandra, how do we get in touch with you? If we have any other questions about your work? Yeah, you can head over to Dr. Cinder, so D-R-C-I-N-D-R-A dot com. We'll get information on the book is there as well. And writing a new book, that's exciting. I know. I only have three chapters left, so I'm close. Oh, I can't wait to hear about it. We're going to talk about that soon.

I'm sure. Cinder, thank you so much. Thanks for having me. Way to go for finishing another episode of the High Performance Mindset. I'm giving you a virtual fist pump. Holy cow, did that go by way too fast for anyone else? If you want more, remember to subscribe. And you can head over to Dr. Cinder for show notes.

And to join my exclusive community for high performers, where you get access to videos about mindset each week. So again, you can head over to Dr. Sindhra. That's D-R-C-I-N-D-R-A.com. See you next week.