Positivity Hack
We live in a time of hacks. There’s a billion dollar industry in ‘biohacking’ that is changing lives, we have work hacks, computer hacks (good ones and bad ones), performance hacks, and all types of hacks… In some cases, these are great things that make the world better. Last year, my wife gave me a red light therapy device that biohackers swear is one of the pillars of great health (coincidentally, I think they’re 100% correct on that, red light therapy seems to be awesome for us!) and this gift has improved our lives immensely.
Did you know there’s positivity hacks too? I’ve always been a pretty happy person- my natural wavelength is happier than not, but I’m by no means a bubbly person. One of the little hacks that I’ve learned to increase my own happiness has also been the thing that has made the biggest difference in my life over the last four years: I read.
Most of what I read is non-fiction- history, philosophy, the science of cross country/track and field, investing, creativity, and leadership. But I also can’t get enough John Grisham books to fulfill my desire to learn more about good storytelling. I’m a history teacher by day. I’m charged with weaving historical narratives together in a cohesive way to help my students understand how the world has gotten to this point and reading fiction has helped me improve that. What I have noticed over the last few years is that the more I read the better I feel. If I find myself in a bit of a funk, I’ll pick up a philosophy book from an author like Ryan Holiday (Ego is the Enemy is probably my favorite of his), or something inspirational from Jocko Willink or David Goggins (former Navy SEALS with years of wisdom) and I start to realize the gravity of my issues seems to lessen and I don’t feel pulled in a negative direction.
When everything is going well, I can read a book like The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, or a book on a great historical figure like Every Drop of Blood by Edwin Achorn about Lincoln’s second inauguration. Books are distilled knowledge and wisdom and we live in a time where you can have practically every book published in the palm of your hand or on the shelves of your house. I try to stay within ten feet of a good book at all times in case I have a short break where I can get a few pages read. This is one of the types of ‘hacks’ that I stack at times to help improve my mindset because learning stokes my bliss and makes me better able to meet my life’s purpose of facilitating the success of those around me in order to help them maximize their potential.
What do you do to help hack into your positive side? What things can you stack in order to make yourself a happier version of yourself? More positivity to come, check back in soon!