Happiness Happens Now

GUEST POST from Kevin Roberts

I’ve been talking lately about the Age of Now. We’re living in a time of electronic instant everything, constant updates, limitless choices and channels.

According to a new paper by Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert just published in the journal Science, there’s a reason why people strive to live in the moment. Simply, it makes us happier. The Guardian reports: “Happiness is found by living in the now … the benefits of living in the moment are extolled by many philosophical and religious traditions, but until now there has been scant scientific evidence to support the advice.”

The study showed that daydreaming takes away our happiness. People are more likely to be joyful when doing things that involve them in the moment, whether it’s having a conversation, exercising or making love.

It’s a surprisingly obvious outcome in these uncertain economic times, where dwelling on the past or thinking about the future can be huge sources of anxiety.

Satisfaction, pleasure, fun, entertainment, connection and, most importantly, love are things that take us into a fuller moment. For enterprise of all kinds, the inquiry goes: am I creating a magic moment? Am I turning down the volume on yesterday and tomorrow? Am I turning up people’s fun dial – today?

Image source: Personal Development Courses

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About Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts is an international business leader, consultant, and educator. As the founder of Red Rose Consulting, he provides expert counsel and coaching on leadership, marketing, and creative thinking to organizations and C-suite executives globally. Previously, Kevin served as the CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi for 17 years and held senior leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and Pepsi. He is the author of several influential books, including Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands and 64 Shots: Leadership in a Crazy World.

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