In my treatment room hangs a banner given to me by dear friends. It reads, ‘Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.’

They obviously know me very well and that I love what I do with and for my patients every day.  it brings me great joy to see people regain their function, decrease their pain and return to a fulfilling lifestyle.  Over the years I’ve come up with a list of ways that happiness leads to success.  Here is just a few and I’d love to hear yours as well.  If you have others please e-mail them to me so I may share them.

1. Talk to others. In one experiment men and woman in a positive mood were more likely to talk to other men and woman and to make self-disclosures, which are important in social relations.
2. Be interested in leisure activities. People in a good/positive mood want to throw a party, go on vacation or go out for a meal.
3. Enjoy those social interactions and leisure activities more.
4. Resolve conflicts effectively. People in a good mood are more likely to try and collaborate rather than conflict and compete when they are put in a positive mood.
5. Help others. When in a good mood, people are more likely to display behavior such as helping others and being generous with both time and energy.
6. Feel healthier. People in a good mood experience less pain and perceive themselves to be healthier.
7. Be more creative. People in a positive mood are more likely to think with originality and flexibility (thinking outside the box) - perhaps through encouraging playfulness.
8. Attribute success to their own skills. Good moods improve people's self-efficacy (our confidence in our own abilities).