Photo from Amazon
Description from the publisher:
“It’s the reason why spending time on Facebook makes us feel sad and lonely. Why expensive name-brand medicines provide better pain relief than the generic stuff, even if they share the same ingredients. And why a hospital room with a good view speeds up recovery from surgery.
The truth is, the way we think about ourselves and the world around us dramatically impacts our happiness, health, how fast or slow we age, and even how long we live. In fact, people with a positive mindset about aging live on average 7.5 years longer than those without.
That might sound alarming to those of us who struggle to see the bright side, but the good news is we can make surprisingly simple changes or small shifts to how we think, feel, and act that will really pay off.
Combining cutting-edge research from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, as well as vivid real-world examples of the power of mindset, The Positive Shift gives readers practical and easy strategies for changing maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors so they can live longer, happier lives.”
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How much can friendships, nature, exercise, and even the language you use and hear impact your outlook, world view, and ultimately your happiness? Quite a lot, it turns out.
I first cracked The Positive Shift last year when I won a copy from BenBella Books. I loved it so much I kept interrupting my reading to post quotes on my Instagram stories. It was blowing my mind. So when we needed a speaker for a retreat at work, I knew just who to suggest. Here now almost a year later, I have listened to The Positive Shift on audio, read it on the page, and been lucky enough to attend a full-day workshop with Catherine Sanderson (I’m on the committee that planned it, and am proud to say it was the most well-received department retreat to date—for 70 people!—in case you need more than just my endorsement). She is that good and her messages are that stunning.
This book really influenced how I view the world around me, and how much control we have over our own happiness, even in the most dire circumstances. We have so much more control over our lives—even the length of our lives—than we think. For instance, at the mere mention of words like 'old' 'slow' etc., people leaving a test will walk more slowly to the elevator. At the mere suggestion that older people can't remember things as well, they will perform worse on memory tests. The power of suggestion is no joke, and how you frame things matters.
Sanderson shows through science that happiness is something we have control over in ways we probably never realized. Surrounding yourself with friends can make you live longer. Getting outside—even bringing a plant into your office or walking by a park or a tree in the city—can make you happier. Comparison is truly the thief of joy. Appreciating what you have, moving your body, getting more nature in your life, focusing on experiences rather than stuff, and investing in healthy relationships will literally make you live longer. Science says so.
And if you ever get a chance, get Catherine Sanderson to come to your retreat!
PS—How much do you love the cover? My favorite part about it is that Dr. Sanderson did not like it, but the marketing focus group loved it, and she trusted the experts. I see it getting commented on all the time online.
I look forward to continuing reading about this topic in my next reading choice, Viktor Frankl’s famous Man’s Search for Meaning, about how even in the most dire circumstances (in his case, in Nazi death camps, including Auschwitz), what we need to thrive is purpose.
If you like this, I think you’ll also like Burnout: Secrets to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.