7 Steps to Lasting Happiness: Insights from Positive Intelligence Webinar
According to Gallup, unhappiness is at a record high; people feel more anger, sadness, worry, and stress than ever before, and global misery was rising well before the pandemic hit (Clifton, 2023).
In a world where the pursuit of happiness is a universal aspiration, it’s essential to understand that happiness isn’t a destination but a journey deeply rooted in our state of mind. Recently, I had the opportunity of attending a captivating webinar led by NY Times Bestselling Author, and Stanford Lecturer, Shirzad Chamine. Titled “Happiness: Applying PQ for Greater Happiness and Fulfillment,” the webinar shed light on the profound impact of Positive Intelligence (PQ) on our happiness and well-being. This article provides a summary of the insights gained from Chamine’s presentation on the power of choosing happiness.
Happiness as a State of Mind
The webinar’s core message resonated with a fundamental truth – happiness is a state of mind. It’s not an external achievement but an internal choice we make each day. Our world is profoundly influenced by our thoughts, and this concept has been echoed by great philosophers throughout history. Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman philosopher noted, “A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” This sentiment was echoed by Ralph Waldo Emerson, America’s foremost philosopher, who said, “A man is what he thinks all day long.”
The wisdom of these statements lies in their assertion that our thoughts shape our reality. What we entertain in our minds has the uncanny ability to manifest itself in our physical experiences. Understanding this principle allows us to embrace the idea that our happiness isn’t solely dependent on external factors, but rather, it’s a result of the thoughts we nurture within ourselves.
Insights from the Webinar
Shirzad Chamine’s webinar provided a comprehensive exploration of how Positive Intelligence can serve as a guiding light on the path to lasting happiness. The webinar centered around three key themes:
Redefining Happiness
Chamine began by highlighting the multifaceted nature of happiness. He emphasized that happiness isn’t a mere emotion but a tapestry woven from positive emotions such as empathy, compassion, curiosity, and creativity. By redefining happiness as a collection of these positive emotions, we shift from the conditional pursuit of happiness to an approach focused on cultivating these emotions within ourselves.
Happiness: A Journey Through Emotions
Happiness is an elusive concept, often interpreted differently by different individuals. To grasp its essence, we must look beyond the surface and understand that happiness is intricately woven into our emotions. Take a moment to reflect on your emotions in the past 24 hours. Were they predominantly positive or negative?
If your day was characterized by negative emotions like stress, anxiety, anger, guilt, or doubt, you likely didn’t experience true happiness. On the contrary, if your day was filled with positive emotions such as empathy, compassion, curiosity, creativity, and peace, you were on a path to genuine happiness.
Unmasking the Lie of Conditional Happiness
One of the most helpful segments of the webinar was Chamine’s discussion on the lie of conditional happiness. The belief that happiness is contingent on external circumstances sets us up for a cycle of fleeting joy and disappointment. By recognizing this falsehood, we empower ourselves to pursue unconditional happiness – a state where our well-being isn’t dictated by external events but by our responses to them.
In our pursuit of happiness, we often fall victim to a significant falsehood – the concept of conditional happiness. This is the idea that we can only be happy if certain external conditions are met, such as achieving success, acquiring material possessions, or avoiding adversity. However, research suggests that this conditional happiness is short-lived, leading to a constant cycle of disappointment.
Consider the analogy of conditional love – just as love cannot thrive under conditions, neither can happiness. Conditional happiness, like a mirage, provides fleeting moments of joy that dissipate as circumstances change. The truth lies in unconditional happiness, a state of contentment that stems from within, independent of external factors.
Unconditional Happiness: The Power of the Sage Perspective
Unconditional happiness flourishes when we embody the Sage perspective. This involves responding to life’s challenges with a perspective that transforms every circumstance into an opportunity for growth and learning. The Sage perspective is fueled by five distinct powers: empathy, exploration, innovation, navigation, and activation. The Sage mode empowers us to navigate life’s complexities with resilience and authenticity.
Let’s consider a scenario where you face adversity – the loss of a crucial client in a business meeting. Your initial reaction might be filled with negative emotions such as shame, guilt, or anger. However, by activating the Sage mode, you shift your perspective. You empathize with yourself and your team, explore the situation, innovate solutions, navigate the challenges, and activate laser-focused action grounded in purpose. This Sage response replaces negativity with curiosity, creativity, and positivity, leading to genuine happiness.
Actionable Takeaways for Unconditional Happiness
The webinar’s insights provide a blueprint for achieving lasting happiness through actionable steps:
- Recognize Emotions: Take time to acknowledge your emotions. Reflect on the positive and negative emotions you experience each day.
- Challenge the Conditional Lie: Identify instances where you’re waiting for external conditions to bring you happiness. Shift your focus towards internal empowerment.
- Embrace Sage Mode: Respond to challenges with the Sage perspective. Engage the five Sage powers – empathy, exploration, innovation, navigation, and activation – to foster positivity and growth.
- Mindful Choice of Thoughts: Recognize that happiness is a choice that emanates from within. Be conscious of the thoughts you entertain and choose positivity over negativity.
- Embrace Unconditional Happiness: Free yourself from the illusion that external conditions dictate your happiness. Choose to derive joy from your internal emotional landscape rather than relying on external factors.
- Cultivate the Sage Mode: Incorporate the Sage mode into your daily life. When faced with challenges, approach them with empathy, curiosity, and innovation. Transform setbacks into opportunities for growth.
- Integrate PQ Practice: Dedicate time to Positive Intelligence exercises daily. PQ Reps, Sage strengthening, and saboteur weakening exercises can rewire your brain for sustained happiness.
Conclusion
Happiness isn’t a fleeting moment of joy but a way of being that we cultivate from within. The webinar led by Shirzad Chamine reminded us that our happiness is a product of our thoughts, choices, and perspectives. By understanding the power of unconditional happiness, embracing the Sage mode, and applying Positive Intelligence practices, we can navigate life’s challenges with grace, resilience, and genuine joy.
Regularly reflecting on your thoughts and emotions and observing how they influence your experiences is the first step towards lasting transformation. As you internalize the principles learned from the webinar, you have the opportunity to intentionally adjust your mindset to foster increased happiness in all aspects of your life.
To truly harness the potential of these concepts and make them a part of your daily life, consider taking action today. I invite you to book a 30-minute discovery call with me, an executive coach with a focus on leadership development and performance. Together, we can delve deeper into how you can practically apply the principles of unconditional happiness, Sage mode, and Positive Intelligence to your leadership journey.
Practicing Positive Intelligence (PQ) exercises, such as PQ Reps, empowers us to strengthen our Sage and weaken our saboteurs. This process of rewiring leads to reduced emotional hijackings and quicker recovery from negativity. By dedicating time to daily PQ practice, you’ll find yourself charging up your Sage strength and elevating your baseline happiness.
Don’t wait to enhance your leadership prowess while cultivating genuine joy. Take the step towards a more fulfilled and resilient you by scheduling your discovery call today.
Your journey towards greater happiness and leadership effectiveness starts now.
Clifton, J. (2023, January 01). The Global Rise of Unhappiness: What Leaders Can Do. Retrieved from https://store.hbr.org/product/the-global-rise-of-unhappiness-what-leaders-can-do/rot472?sku=ROT472-PDF-ENG
