When people exercise, we talk about endorphins, but endorphins are just short-term. The reason why exercise is valuable is it trains your brain to believe, 'My behavior matters,' which is optimism.
Shawn AchorRead
Too many people limit their happiness and success by assuming that taking time off from work will send a negative message to their manager and slow their career advancement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Taking time off is essential for overall happiness and success, contrary to common misconceptions.
In this quote, Shawn Achor highlights the flawed belief that taking time away from work can hinder one's career progression. He emphasizes that individuals often restrict their own happiness and success due to societal pressure or fear of judgment, when in reality, prioritizing self-care and time off can lead to greater fulfillment and productivity in the long run.
Themes
HappinessSuccessWork-Life BalanceSelf-CareCareer
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting about work-life balance, I shared this quote to encourage everyone to prioritize their well-being.
More from Shawn Achor
All quotes βPositive and engaged brains are a company's greatest assets. More than time and even more than productivity, people must be happy.
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Success does not mean happiness. Check out any celebrity magazine to look for examples to disabuse you of thinking that being beautiful, successful or rich will make you happy.
Shawn AchorRead
The research says that being successful doesn't automatically make you happier, but being happier - being more positive - makes you more successful.
Shawn AchorRead
Waiting to be happy limits our brain's potential for success, whereas cultivating positive brains makes us more motivated, efficient, resilient, creative, and productive, which drives performance upward.
Shawn AchorRead
Constantly scanning the world for the negative comes with a great cost. It undercuts our creativity, raises our stress levels, and lowers our motivation and ability to accomplish goals.
Shawn AchorRead
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The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
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And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.
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