833. Happiness: There's a Science to It

Scott Wilhite

Scott was in a corporate job he hated, with a mindset he called “grumpaholic.” Feeling miserable, he ran a fantasy jackpot scenario in his head, and he asked himself, “If I win the Powerball and $32 million, what will I do?” After quickly imagining his first several days as a millionaire, he began to suspect lack of money was not his problem. He knew he had to discover what was missing.

Scott Wilhite is an award-winning commercial filmmaker turned social entrepreneur. As a writer, producer, and director he was enjoying a promising creative career without actually…enjoying it. This all changed when he was introduced to the world of positive psychology and discovered what happens when you deliberately, consciously choose what you mentally focus on. He has since created the Feed Your Happy app, authored a book and several courses, and founded nCOURAGE.LIFE.

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

Fed up with corporate life, Scott had given his notice. On his last day on the job he encountered a co-worker who was talking excitedly about a book he was reading about happiness. (See “On His Bookshelf” below.) “I knew I had to have that book! That was the beginning of my understanding that happiness is a skill. To learn that there are actual skills I could learn, to experience happiness, totally floored me. That’s when life started to open up for me. I was no longer looking outside myself for something to change.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“Remember that you get what you expect. So, change your limiting belief system. It’s not circumstances that are limiting you. By changing your thought patterns, you can change your experiences. You’ll be able to be in control and dictate some good things in your life.”

1.Learn about the science of happiness. Happiness is a skill that can be learned.Use repetition to get better at using these skills for happiness.

2. Look for the lessons life is offering and learn from them.

3. Focus on your bigger picture vision instead of living in the past; but DO let yourself learn from the past.

4.Cultivate gratitude. You can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time.