Everyone wants happiness and success, yet the pursuit of both has never been more elusive. As work and personal demands rise, we try to keep up by juggling everything better, moving faster, and doing more. While we might succeed in the short term, this approach comes at a high cost in the long term: it hurts our well-being, our relationships, and—paradoxically—our productivity.
In this life-changing book, Emma Seppälä explains that the reason we are burning ourselves out is that we fall for outdated theories of success. We are taught that getting ahead means doing everything that’s thrown at us with razor-sharp focus and iron discipline, that success depends on our drive and talents, and that achievement cannot happen without stress.
The Happiness Track demolishes these counterproductive theories. Drawing on the latest scientific research on happiness, resilience, willpower, compassion, positive stress, creativity, and mindfulness,
Seppälä demonstrates that being happy is the most productive thing we can do to thrive—whether at work or at home. She shares practical strategies for applying these scientific findings to our daily lives.
A fulfilling, successful, and anxiety-free life is within your reach. The Happiness Track will show you the way.
Happiness Is the Fast Track to Success
“Are you a hard-driving, multitasking, conscientiously striving professional? Then your ideas about success are probably all wrong—and you need The Happiness Track, Dr. Emma Seppälä’s investigation into the counter-intuitive factors that create career and life success. The best news of all? All these skills are well within your grasp.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
“Emma Seppälä convinces us that reconfiguring our brain for happiness can change the way our lives unfold and the way we approach success. A worthwhile read for anyone who wants to achieve a successful and fulfilling life.”—Amy Cuddy, professor at Harvard Business School and author of Presence
“Backed by extensive research in psychology and neuroscience, The Happiness Track offers a wealth of insight on changing how we approach our work, our personal lives, and our relationships. It’s a carefully researched, engaging look at how to improve ourselves without losing our authenticity or our sanity.”—Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals
“Through her research-backed strategies, Emma Seppälä teaches us not only how to thrive in our chosen profession, but how to stay true to ourselves—and enjoy every moment of the process.”—Susan Cain, cofounder of Quiet Revolution and New York Times bestselling author of Quiet
“For decades we’ve been tied to theories of success that have burned us out and driven us into the ground—because we don’t know of any alternatives. The Happiness Track provides us with a highly readable, science-backed solution to obtaining sustainable success, the sort of success we are all really striving for, that leaves us fulfilled, happy, and healthy.”—Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., scientific director at the Imagination Institute at the University of Pennsylvania
In The Happiness Track, Emma Seppala In The Happiness Track, Emma Seppala, (a Ph.D. from Stanford) notes that in today’s society, we strive for happiness and success, but often find both unattainable. We learn that in order to be happy, we need to be successful.We grow up believing that we need to find a passion at a young age, focus solely on this passion, and work ourselves to the bone so that we can become masters in this field. We tell ourselves that the stress, anxiety and exhaustion that we feel as the result of our work-horse mentality, only means that we’re on the right track.But Seppala argues that the reverse is true — that in order to be successful, we need to be happy. In order to be happy, we need to take care of ourselves; focusing on our mental well-being, taking necessary work breaks, and remaining mindful and present throughout our every day lives.Through scientific studies, anecdotal notes, and interviews, Seppala explains just how happiness lends itself fully to success, and provides concrete methods for improving our personal day-to-day happiness factors.My colleague loves mindful meditation. He gave me this book as a result of multiple conversations about this practice, and while this book is unlike any that I would normally choose for myself, I truly enjoyed it.The chapters (and my thoughts on each) are as follows:1 – Stop Chasing the Future. Seppala notes that we’re taught to always be looking forward. We’re never able to appreciate our achievements, because as soon as we come close to reaching our goal, we’re already looking to make progress on the next goal. We miss out on the good things happening around us now.She’s right. The timelines and deadlines I’ve arranged for myself throughout the years are innumerable. I’m organized and I like structure, so I set goals, and deadlines in all facets of my life. As soon as I finish one thing, I have ten other tasks lined up. I never feel fully at ease in my day, because I’m always looking to make headway in endeavors I haven’t yet reached. It’s stressful, and I’m always tired. It’s no way to live.2 – Step Out of Overdrive. Seppala states that we need to slow down. The United States is one of the most stressed out privileged nations in the world. Our anxiety costs us billions of dollars per year. 70% of mental health doctors’ visits are due to anxiety and stress. This is unfortunate, but it’s not any one person’s fault. It’s the result of a society that values competition and around-the-clock work over our health and mental well-being.I make jokes all the time about other people contaminating me with their “contagious” stress. Turns out though — I’m right! When you’re stressed, or anxious, your pheromones project this into the air. Others can literally catch your stress. No wonder Americans suffer from such significant mental health issues! And yet, we stigmatize those who reach out for help with a callous “Buck up. It’s not that bad.” No. Don’t “buck up.” Get help. You should feel welcome to take care of yourself without judgment. Our attitudes are conflicting and nonsensical.Our unhealthy need for competition, and desire to always be “on” leads to absurd amounts of multi-tasking. Because we spend so much time multi-tasking, we make mistakes, and never fully commit to the task at hand. By slowing down, we’ll not only make less mistakes in the work we do, but we’ll enjoy each task more, and feel less aggravation and stress.3 – Manage Your Energy. Only put your energy toward things that really matter. If the task doesn’t require all of your energy, then don’t give it all of your energy. Save your high intensity emotions for things that require high intensity.4 – Get More Done by Doing More of Nothing. I found this chapter so interesting. Seppala discussed how some of the most influential and innovative people of our time came up with their life-changing ideas. Guess where their bouts of genius didn’t occur? At work. In their email. In a staff meeting. Sure — these people worked hard, and tended to their emails, but they also took time out for themselves. They golfed. They fished. They took vacations. In doing these things, in giving their minds rest, they were able to recharge and rejuvenate. Then, because their brains were awake and fully functioning, they were able to tap into their creativity, and create world-altering inventions. It makes sense.5 – Enjoy a Successful Relationship With Yourself. Be nice to yourself. We live in a society that demands perfection — and we’re horrible to ourselves when we don’t achieve it.Think about how terrible you feel when someone constantly belittles you. Isn’t it awful? So then, why constantly belittle yourself? It’s not helpful. Accept your mistakes and your shortcomings, and move on.Also, allow yourself to indulge in…
Time to get the ‘L’ plates out and take a new test.
Great information presented accessibly and practically.