Unbelievably, today is the start of the fourth and final quarter of 2020.
Yesterday, C-suite and elite performance coach Mick Todd of 2bLimitless, sent me a Peter Diamandis quote -
"No matter who you are or what you do, the one universal truth is that you will get disrupted!"
If 2020 has taught us one thing, it is that CHANGE is the true constant in life and that our models of life need to be agile and robust enough to support change and allow us to prosper.
No matter how accomplished or happy you are in life, there are always areas that could use some improvement - especially for achievers. Think about your health, career, finances and relationships. Where are you currently thriving and where could you use some work? Do you feel energetic and full of vitality, but struggling to make real connections with people? Are you on track to achieve financial freedom, but you're stuck in a job that gives you no meaning?
So much of the current research points to the power of 'mindset'. This week's edition kicks off with Carol Dweck's TED Talk about 'The power of believing you can improve'.
I've followed this up with a fantastic bit of research by Dr. Alia Crum titled 'Change your mindset, change the game' which builds upon her first TED Talk and has a great finale!
Given last week's blog discussed the 8 key strategies for having an intentional, effortful impact on our mindset or Positive Emotion, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning and Achievement (PERMA) settings, I've been asked over the week for a list of helpful links, apps and books on 'Happy'.
Happy resources:
Coursera: The Science of Well-Being - Yale University has made this course completely free during lockdown and almost 3 million people have taken it!
The Happiness Lab
Headspace
Five Minute Journal
VIA Institute on Character
Happy books:
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt
Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment by Tal Ben-Shahar
10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story by Dan Harris
Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being by Martin E.P. Seligman
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E.P. Seligman
Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine
The Ripple Effect: Sleep Better, Eat Better, Move Better, Think Better by Dr. Greg Wells
Back onto the topic of investment and money, I have included a well-researched and fantastic article on 'The most dangerous investing move you can make' from Eric Nelson. As my article on the 'Dunning-Kruger effect' tried to highlight, there is a lot of complexity to evidence-based investing and our limbic brain often tricks us into thinking we’re right when we’re not. I therefore enjoyed Robin Powell’s take on inspirational founder and index fund pioneer Mark Hebner's recent podcast interview.
As always, and true to my own military roots, the final word is taken by former senior British Army officer, inspirational leader and Ironman champion David Labouchere on 'Play' and that Stress + Rest = Growth.
This week's meditations
"Those who have knowledge don’t predict; those who predict don’t have knowledge."
Lao Tzu
"Thoughtful investors can toil in obscurity, achieving solid gains in good years and losing less than others in the bad. They avoid sharing in the riskiest behaviour because they’re so aware of how much they don’t know and because they have their egos in check. This, in my opinion, is the greatest formula for long term wealth creation – but it doesn’t provide much ego gratification in the short run."
Howard Marks
"People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome."
George Orwell
A question for you
Carrying on from David’s lesson, ask yourself – What foolish, creative, and generous thing or ‘play’ will I do today?
Enjoy the ‘light’ reading and happy weekend! If you liked this post, please share it with others using the icons at the top, or just forward them this blog.
Carol Dweck's TED Talk 'The power of believing that you can improve'
Dr. Alia Crum's TEDx Talk 'Change your mindset, change the game'
Martin Seligman's 'PERMA' model
Eric Nelson's article 'The most dangerous investing move you can make'
My blog on the 'Dunning-Kruger effect'
Robin Powell's take on index fund pioneer Mark Hebner's recent podcast interview
David Labouchere's article 'Play'
