I read somewhere recently that positive people are far more likely to be successful. I wish I could remember the details because it was fascinating. A study was done by looking at the authenticity of the smile in school photo’s – apparently, there is a muscle in every person’s face that just cannot lie. If you are truly happy this muscle moves – it adds the glint to your eyes. Those who were authentically happy in school photo’s – were far more likely to be successful twenty years on.
I know that ever since I won the ‘jelly bean in a jar guessing game’ at the age of eight at primary school I have thought I was a lucky person. And my luck continues. Therefore when I read this quote sent to me from my friend JC… I rather liked it.
“Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
Samuel Ullman (1840-1924, Educator, Writer and Poet)
If you know the source of this research of more about it please touch base… Thanks.
Alice Henderson says
Thanks, I enjoyed reading your blog.
Another great luck quote – “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the luckier I get” Thomas Jefferson
So true.
David says
Here is a reference to the study by Dacher Keltner and LeeAnne Harker
http://www.mindpub.com/art458.htm
And here is something for fun (Here is the challenge to better 17 out of 20)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/smiles/index.shtml
Gauri Maini says
Martin E. P. Seligman writes about optimism and its linkages with success (also with combating terminal diseases) in Learned Optimism. It also has a quick test that you can use to assess your "hope" factor. Optimism and success are definitely linked