This is the last of my series of four posts about happiness, inspired by Shawn Achor, a Harvard graduate, author of The Happiness Advantage and founder of Good Think, Inc. His talk at the recent concierge congress in Boston continues to motivate me! He talked about two scientifically substantiated concepts that were completely new to me, and I wanted to share them with you: The 20-second rule and mirrored neurons.
The 20-Second Rule
The idea here is that if there’s something you want to do or achieve, you’re more likely to succeed if the process is as easy as possible. Mr. Achor gave this example: He genuinely wanted to play his guitar, but every time he walked by the instrument in its case, he just didn’t feel compelled to play. He then bought a stand for the guitar and kept it on the stand, in plain sight. Once it was out of its case, he began to play it daily. It became a habit 20 days later.
He also wanted to read more and watch TV less; but more often than not, he found himself picking up the remote control. It was just too easy! So, he decided to remove the batteries from the remote and put them in the next room. It would have taken him at least twenty seconds for him to get up, retrieve the batteries and install them. Instead, he began picking up a book he placed strategically near the couch and began to read.
Mr. Achor explained that these behavioral changes were grounded in the 20-second rule, based not only on his personal experiences, but also scientific research. Essentially, if an activity takes twenty seconds or more, most humans will resist doing it—even if they know it’s good for them. On the flip side, undesirable habits become less attractive when they become even a tiny bit more difficult.
At least for me, this could have significant results. I think I’ll try it with vegetables vs. crackers: Vegetables already cut and on the middle shelf in the fridge; crackers still in the store! We shall see.
Mirrored Neurons
His second point was equally interesting to me: The concept of mirrored neurons. Mr. Achor contends, and once again substantiates with research, that we are all wirelessly connected—brain to brain—by a mirrored-neuron effect. This is why when someone yawns, it almost seems contagious. Well, a smile works the same way, as does rampant negativity. There is indeed a ripple effect, and we are all connected—my neurons mirroring yours and vice versa. As a customer service expert, this had a tremendous impact on me. Concierges and other service providers make connections with hundreds of people day in and day out. Just think of how many opportunities we have to meet guests and co-workers neuron-to-neuron and make a difference in people’s lives.
I know this is all very California-cosmic sounding, but the fact that Harvard research backs it up is really quite convincing. It affirms for me that the choices we make—even the seemingly minor—really matter, perhaps more so than we know. So go ahead—apply the 20-second rule to those forgotten New Year’s resolutions, put a smile on your face and carry a little joy into your world!