Keller Williams Convention & Personal Recognition

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

I had such a wonderful time learning and growing at our Keller Williams convention “Family Reunion.” After a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, folks were happy to be gathering again. Proof of vaccination was required to attend. Gladly. There were about 50,000 real estate agents at the Orlando Convention Center. Mid-February was a perfect time to be in Florida. The weather was wonderful, though breezy and cool at times.

The keynote speaker for the event was Harvard Grad Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage. In a room full of highly competitive, driven individuals, he made a salient point: Happiness is not a goal.

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking: “I’ll be happy when…” Achor suggests framing our days in a more positive light by consciously looking for and celebrating those things, actions or moments for which we are grateful. One might consider reflecting with their partner or family before dinner about what went well and for what are they thankful. Make a point to find three new things each day. Simply searching for positive occurrences is shown to rewire the brain such that these events come more readily and sharply into focus. Realizing our brains seem naturally designed to search for threats, this process can mean recoding our normal thought patterns. It is not artificial happiness Shawn is talking about; it is simply a choice one can make, to consciously scan for those moments that make us grateful. Create positive habits for yourself. Can’t hurt! Studies show that individuals who engage in this practice report being more successful and feeling more… happy!