Live Better

This week on the Growth Guide Podcast we talked to Will Storr author of The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better.

Storytelling is one of the most important skills you were never taught.

Stories shape who we are and are essential to what makes us human.

The Science of Storytelling applies psychological research and neuroscience to our myths and archetypes to show how we can write better stories. Key lessons include:

• Power of flaws

• Power of goals

• Power of change

• Power of metaphors

• Be the main character

• The Psychology of status

• 5-act structure of storytelling

• Importance of ignition points

Click below to listen to the episode:

Achieve More

Have you ever noticed,

Positive people succeed more.

It turns out, there's a reason for it.

It's called the Happiness Advantage.

In his book The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor flips happiness on its head.

Happiness isn’t the result of success. It’s the precursor to it.

Shawn provides evidence from studies in psychology and neuroscience to prove positivity and happiness provide a significant advantage in the workplace and life.

For example, a positive mindset results in 31% higher productivity, 37% better sales, and three times more creativity.

But, can you choose happiness?

The answer is Yes.

In 2012, Dr. Martin Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology, proposed a theory of well-being, known as the Perma model:

• Positive emotion

• Engagement

• Relationship

• Meaning

• Accomplishment

Positive emotion

Positive emotions, such as joy, hope, love, and gratitude are indicators of happiness.

Here's how you generate them:

• Reflect on what you're grateful for

• Spend time with loved ones

• Listen to uplifting music

• Do activities you enjoy

Engagement

You’re engaged when you’re in flow. When you’re absorbed in an activity.

When you respond to challenges with your strengths, it puts you in a flow state.

• Learn your strengths and use them

• Do activities you love

• Live in the moment

Relationship

As a social creature, you need to feel supported, loved, and valued by others.

Improve your relationships to increase intimacy, wellbeing, and satisfaction:

• Join a class or group

• Reconnect with past friends

• Learn something new about a friend

Meaning

To be truly happy, you need to have a purpose.

To serve something greater than yourself gives you a sense of value and worth.

To increase meaning:

• Get involved in a cause that matters

• Use your passion to help others

• Volunteer your time and skills

Accomplishment

You feel accomplished when you set challenging goals and work to achieve them.

Intrinsic goals lead to more significant gains in well-being than extrinsic goals.

• Set SMART goals

• Take consistent action

• Reflect on your past wins

You can be happy,

If you choose to be happy.

Be Financially Free

I was blessed and lucky enough to reach a certain level of financial wealth in my 30s with:

• No hacks

• No inheritance

• No family money

• No get-rich-quick plan

If you’re in your 20s, here’s the exact playbook I would use to do it.

A Thought

It’s so easy to think When I achieve X, I’ll be happy or When I can buy Y, I’ll be happy.

We can forget happiness is simply a choice we make and work for.

A Question

How can you use the PERMA model to change your happiness today?

Etc.

For the Thought and Question, drop me a note - I want to hear from you.

When you have 10 referrals, you’ll receive a Free Guide on the 15 Mindset Shifts that will help you be a Millionaire.