Book Jill → +1.303.999.9224 | Join the Community

Jill Christensen International – Employee Engagement Expert Jill Christensen International – Employee Engagement Expert
  • BIO
  • SPEAKING
  • TOUR
  • BOOK
  • BLOG
  • RAVE REVIEWS
  • CONNECT
  • BIO
  • SPEAKING
  • TOUR
  • BOOK
  • BLOG
  • RAVE REVIEWS
  • CONNECT
  • Home
  • Blog
  • My Takeaways from Yale’s Most Popular Class

Blog

13 Sep

My Takeaways from Yale’s Most Popular Class

  • By Jill Christensen

I recently completed Yale’s online course, The Science of Well-being – a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits.  I passed (although
I did sweat as I waited for my grade), so here are my top takeaways, which I hope help you increase your happiness.

1. You Can Increase Your Happiness

Genetics account for 50 percent of one’s happiness, life circumstances 10 percent, and 40 percent is up to each individual’s intentional thoughts and actions.

2. The Things You Think Will Make You Happy Probably Won’t

Most people think that money, fancy material objects, true love, and a perfect body are the keys to happiness.  However, research shows that unless you make less than $75,000 a year, more money does not equate to more happiness. And, chasing material objects and comparing one’s self to others actually detracts from happiness.

3. As it Relates to Happiness, Your Mind is Not Your Friend

The mind plays tricks on us which can confuse us on our journey to happiness. Besides the fact that our minds are built to get used to things and hence, take them for granted, our minds trick us into judging ourselves through social comparison, which is toxic to happiness.

4. The Fix?  Get Intentional and Do Things That Actually Drive Happiness

What are these things?  Engage in 30 minutes of exercise at least three days a week, choose experiences – like going to a concert or on a hike – vs. material things, start a gratitude journal, volunteer, and do one random act of kindness every day.

JILL, WHAT CAN I DO?  The plan is laid out in number four above and I have a few personal tips to make it a reality.  For exercise, schedule the three weekly workouts on your calendar like meetings each Sunday.  For experiences, tell your family and friends that whenever they give you a gift, it can’t be material – it has to be an experience.  For volunteering, VolunteerMatch.org will help you find opportunities near your home.  Finally, the next time you go through a drive-though, pay for the order from the car behind you.  That happened to me last week and I beamed for hours.  To your happiness.

  • Share:
Jill Christensen

You may also like

A New Disease is Afoot: Setting Unobtainable Goals

  • January 10, 2021
  • by Jill Christensen
  • in Blog
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considered giving half-doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine to people aged 18 to 55 in...
A Lesson from the Airlines That We Should All Heed
January 3, 2021
Could Your Company Come to the Aid of a Nation?
December 13, 2020
How to Create Your Own Happiness
December 6, 2020

SUBSCRIBE NOW

In the U.S., text JILL to 44144 to become a free VIP Member of #CultureNation. Outside the U.S., JOIN NOW to receive exclusive content.

Recent Posts

  • A New Disease is Afoot: Setting Unobtainable Goals
  • A Lesson from the Airlines That We Should All Heed
  • Could Your Company Come to the Aid of a Nation?
  • How to Create Your Own Happiness
  • Why Will We Defy Our Government, But Not Our Employer?

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015

CONTACT JILL

1-303-999-9224

jill@jillchristensenintl.com

Denver, Colorado, USA

Connect With Jill

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

JOIN #CULTURENATION

In the U.S., text JILL to 44144 to become a free VIP Member of #CultureNation. Outside the US, Join Now to receive exclusive content.

Website Design by TEN31 Marketing