According to Shawn Achor, Harvard graduate and author of The Happiness Advantage, happiness does not result from success, but rather success flows from happiness. In fact, every aspect of our lives is enhanced by happiness, including finances, romance, health and relationships with friends and family. There’s actually scientific research to prove it. You might call it the best of California-style pop psychology (otherwise known as “woo-woo”), wrapped in a Harvard pedigree..
But if happiness is the initiating factor, then how do we find it? According to Mr. Achor, the most important factor in determining happiness—regardless of how much money we have or how much weight we’ve lost—is a strong support system. A robust social support network is instrumental in getting us through life’s challenges and helping us live a healthy, fulfilling life.
This comes as no surprise to most hotel concierges. Our relationships are our most valuable assets—both personally and professionally. To quote a line from my book, The Art and Science of the Hotel Concierge: “Maintaining and nurturing relationships yields greater success and job satisfaction, as well as a sense of personal accomplishment. “ This is especially true of the deep and lifelong bonds concierges establish with each other, which often extend worldwide. We share information, provide moral support and tell each other some pretty amazing stories.
Of course, strong social networks aren’t just for concierges, but all human beings, who are interdependent. Support comes from family, friends, organizations, even online chat buddies. I often like to leave my readers with questions to ponder, so today I ask you: What support systems do you rely on? Do they bring you happiness? If you are experiencing a lack in this area of your life, what might you do to build a solid support system for yourself?
To find out more about “The Happiness Advantage,” check out Shawn Achor’s website at www.shawnachor.com. And, stay tuned for my next post, in which I will list more steps you can take to invite happiness into your life.