592-A Twist On Optimism

What if we are looking at the “glass half full” analogy all wrong?  

 

Transcript:

 

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in 2 minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat and I was listening to a podcast from 2019 with happiness expert Shawn Anchor and Oprah talking about all this happiness. 

 

Shawn Anchor is a former Harvard professor, New York Times Bestselling Author and happiness expert.   He said something that made me think and I wanted to share it with you.  He said he doesn’t care whether you think the glass is ½ full or ½ empty.  It’s not about the glass and when we focus on the glass we are focusing on the wrong thing.  

 

He says, there is a pitcher right next to the glass.  Every glass.  Whether you see it or not.  What we should be focused on is not the glass but how we fill it.  Life is the pitcher.  How am I connecting with people around me, connection with others is where we find happiness.  Am I filling my pitcher with authentic connections to pour into my glass.  When we need to fill our cup, we can do that with the people around us.  The pitcher is always there, we just need to be looking for it.  

 

Our happiness habits are the pitcher.  Are we filling our pitcher with habits that provoke happiness and well-being?  

 

His analogy boils down to the same thing people get at when they say, do you see the glass as half full or half empty.  Are you optimistic or pessimistic?  It’s what you perceive.  He just takes a spin at it by saying, it’s not about the glass, it’s about what we are looking for and what we see those experiences and perceptions that we pour into the glass that matters.  

 

Fascinating right.  I love this idea and I am going to be cultivating happiness habits so I always have a full pitcher if my glass is low.   

 

Until next time, take two minutes and write a kindness email, a note of gratitude or thanks to someone you’ve been thinking about lately.  It makes all the difference and it will fill your pitcher.  Remember, kindness is contagious. 

 

Inspired by this Super Soul podcast episode. 

 

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