HAPPINESS AND OPTIMISM

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Emotional Skills measured on the EQ-i®

• INTRAPERSONAL– Self-regard– Emotional self-awareness– Assertiveness– Independence– Self-actualization

• INTERPERSONAL– Empathy– Social responsibility– Interpersonal relationship

• ADAPTABILITY– Reality testing – Flexibility– Problem solving

• STRESS MANAGEMENT– Stress tolerance– Impulse control

• GENERAL MOOD– Optimism– Happiness

HAPPINESS

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”

Albert Einstein

Are you happy? Do you : *Feel good about my life?*Smile easily?*Have fun?*Enjoy yourself? Others?

HAPPINESS is an indicator of your overall degree of emotional intelligence and emotional functioning

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

TOO High• Might not take things seriously• Might not be taken seriously • Possible disillusionment of reality

TOO Low• Risk of depression – symptoms include

• dissatisfaction with life• social withdrawal• feelings of guilt• suicidal thoughts and behaviour

Happiness

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Happiness and Genetics

Genetic component to happiness Left side brain = self confidence, happy,

optimism Right side brain = suspicion, pessimism,

unhappy 1/3 people left, 1/3 right, 1/3

neutral We can learn to switch!

Dr. R Davidson, neuropsychologist @ university of Wisconsin (How to be Happier)

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Changing Our Brains

The mental circuitry of emotion is not static

Circuitry is like "plastic" --- its behaviour can be changed through intervention

Some non-medicinal interventions: Cognitive therapy Meditation techniques Frequent tapping into the left side of the

brain Physical actions such as SMILING!

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar talks on happiness: click here

1. Be human. (understand emotions) 2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. (do what you love) 3. Remember happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not status or state of our bank account. 4. Simplify! (learn to say no… go back to basics) 5. Remember the mind-body connection. (exercise!) 6. Express gratitude. (don’t take things for granted) 

Six Tips for HappinessFrom Tal Ben-Shahar

Happiness is a contagious

thing!

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Optimistic people recognize when they are in a difficult situation, but they have a positive regard as to how things will turn out.

Happiness Perpetuates Optimism

Is it contagious, too? Click below…Glass Half Empty or Glass Half Full?

Optimism

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Optimistic People…

Acknowledge and recognize their own skills

Have the capacity to address problems More readily overcome obstacles Have the ability to see the positive

Video: The Power of Optimism

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

TOO High• Doesn’t take things seriously• Outcomes not realized

TOO Low• Fears worst will happen• Sees glass as “half empty”

Optimism

opportunityisnowhere

WHAT DOES THIS SAY?

opportunity is no whereopportunity is now here

~ Strategies for Success ~ The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business ~

Differentiating Between Pessimism and Optimism

When negative things happen… A pessimist thinks it will be permanent and pervasive An optimist sees setbacks as temporary and specific

For example… The pessimist: “Diets don’t work” (permanent) The optimist: “Diets don’t work when you eat out”

(temporary)

The pessimist: “All bosses are unprincipled” (global) The optimist: “Jim is unprincipled” (specific)

In Class Activity: Analyze the case below (or see handout). In groups of 4-5, discuss the case and consider the following questions:1. In regards to emotional intelligence, what do you think Mike is feeling? 2. What happened?3. What are the optimistic vs. pessimistic reactions (of everyone involved) that could emerge from this situation?4. Do you think Mike should address his concerns? Why or why not?

After graduating from the Marketing program at Fanshawe College, Mike believed that marketers had the responsibility of accurately describing the features and benefits of their product or service to their customers. Mike also assumed that if the features and benefits did not meet the needs of the customers, then survey data was given to the designers and any problems/issues were addressed.

After only a year in the industry, Mike’s viewpoint has quickly changed. In the company he works for, the job of the marketing department is to support the sales team with messages, brochures, and ads that help convince prospective customers that buying a product or service is the right choice.

Whether or not the product is the right choice for customers, or whether or not customers need the product, is not a point of a discussion at all.

Adapted from Ghillyer (2012) Business Ethnics Now