An optimistic outlook can enhance your health, your work, and your daily life.
Research shows that 90% of your happiness is determined by your mindset, meaning only 10% is affected by external factors – be that your job, finances or health. It might be hard to believe, but happiness and contentment have as much to do with how you perceive life as anything else. Whether it’s ageing, an approaching lifestyle change as retirement nears, or a general waning of zest for life, there’s a wealth of research and ideas that suggest a more optimistic outlook is within your reach.
Stay Positive to Feel Healthier and Younger
For your parents, reaching those middle and senior ages may have meant a significant lifestyle change – stepping back from their career and less physical activity – but current and future generations have different prospects. These days, people know more about what’s needed to stay healthy and know that new hobbies, careers, or athletic achievements can happen at any age. According to a recent study by researchers from Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley, you are only as old as you think you are (hear us out). Participants who were exposed to positive ideas and associations with ageing – such as words likewise and spry – were found to have a greater improvement in their physical health than participants of a similar study that involved six months of prescribed exercise! Think triathlons are a thing of your past? Think again.
The older runner that could
In 2011, Arthur Gilbert became the oldest triathlete when he completed the Burnham-on-Sea triathlon at age 90. He completed his first triathlon at age 68.
Other research suggests that in many ways, our brains improve with age. As we accumulate experiences, our innovation and creativity are boosted as we’re able to think bigger and make important mental connections. With more life experience also comes greater maturity and awareness, giving us a keen understanding of what’s truly important so we don’t waste time sweating the small stuff.
Stay Positive to Achieve Your Goals
So often we make the mistake of thinking that by first reaching our goals (like getting that promotion or raise), we can then find happiness, but research shows us that the opposite is actually true. When MET Life took a look at its salespeople, they found such great results from those who were happier that they decided to start hiring people who were optimistic over those who showed higher intelligence or more experience. In the first year, the happier salespeople outsold their colleagues by 19%, and by 57% in the second year.
A recent study that was published in Management Science supports this idea. Their research shows that each one-unit increase in happiness (on a scale of 0-10) led to a 12% increase in productivity.
Practice the following 5 exercises a day to train your brain to become more positive:
– Identify 3 things you are grateful for
– Journal about a positive experience
– Exercise to release stress
– Meditate to increase focus
– Practice conscious acts of kindness by doing things for others, or writing thank-you notes
Don’t Underestimate the Little Things
When we think of what might make us the happiest, our mind might jump to the loftiest ideas: extravagant holidays or a big house. But research from The Journal of Consumer Research suggests that’s not necessarily the case.
In the study, participants were asked to recall enjoyable experiences, which included ordinary things that happened more frequently – such as a good meal or visit with family – and extraordinary things, which were rarer and included things like exotic holidays. What they found was that the older the participant, the more joy they experienced from ordinary pleasures, eventually growing to match the joy we get from novel experiences.
Whether you’re still saving for retirement or already in it, this is a great reminder that your lifestyle can be a rich one whether you’re cruising the Caribbean or living more modest day-to-day. There are lots of small ways to polish your perceptions or just make more time for simple joys that lead to great contentment. Here are some of our favourites:
Regardless of your age or budget, your lifestyle and well-being can be as good as you believe them to be. Whatever your goals are for your career, health, or retirement, surrounding yourself with people you care about and filling your time with simple joys can go a long way in giving you the positive boost you need.
Sources: Forbes, Management Science, Medium.com, NHS, CNN.com
Black MondayOn 19 October 1987, the stock markets experienced a dramatic plunge that prompted many firms to shut down their trading desks and turn off their phones to minimize internal losses. Raymond James refused to do the same. Our desks stayed open to help meet clients’ needs, resulting in our first and only unprofitable quarter since the firm went public in 1983. |
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Who was Raymond James?The Raymond in our name is actually from Edward Raymond, owner of a 15-employee mutual fund sales group, Raymond and Associates, along Florida’s west coast. He sold his company to Bob James on 15 July 1964, on condition that the surviving firm be called Raymond, James & Associates. Three days after the sale, Ed Raymond was involved in a near-fatal automobile accident and never joined the firm. Nonetheless, even after Raymond had passed away, Bob James insisted that his name remain on the door – ahead of James’ own. That was a promise he made to Ed Raymond three days before the accident, and Bob James was a man who kept his promises. |
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Bear Market of 1974The severe bear market of 1974 threatened the existence of Raymond James, which was bleeding capital by the day. Tom James, his father and other leaders took extreme measures to keep the firm afloat, slashing costs, foregoing paychecks and even attempting to sell the firm for just enough capital to protect client assets and retain as many associates as possible. The story could have ended very differently if not for a sharp upturn and continued rebound in the stock markets late in the year. |
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Taking Raymond James PublicWhen consideration was being given to taking Raymond James public, Tom James penned a letter to shareholders (largely employees at the time). ” … the public offering should be considered as a statement of our independence. While this is a psychological rather than an economic rationale, it is nonetheless very important. We have asserted for some time that we are not interested in becoming a small part of a very large corporation. That assertion results mainly from the inclinations of management rather than the economic benefits associated with either alternative. The public stock offering affords us the opportunity to enjoy a little bit of the best of both worlds. While shareholders will be given liquidity at fair market value, we will still have the ability to control our own destiny.” After 40+ years of Tom’s leadership, upon becoming CEO, Paul Reilly was often questioned about whether the company might ultimately surrender its cherished independence and be acquired by some larger entity. His response: “Not while I’m around.” It’s a theme that continues today. |
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