The Mood Elevator
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benefits of, 124–127
choosing the gratitude perspective, 122–124
effect on others of, 147–148
in the face of adversity, 130–133
maintaining perspective of, 177
“Power of Words” video, 121–122
sharing appreciation, 129
unconditional, 133–135
habits
being in the zone, 26
blame game, 53–54
depression, 82–83
life practices, 99–100
as obstructions to health, 27–28
unhealthy normal, 51
worry, 79, 85
habitual emotional states, 47–48
Hamilton, Marilyn, 155–157
happiness, 118, 126–127
Harvard School of Public Health data, 112
health issues
healthy behaviors, 33
innate health, 175, 176–178
potential for health, 27
problems of, 131–132
See also physical fitness
Heidrick & Struggles, 20
higher mood states, 172–173
higher purpose, finding your, 73–75
higher-quality thinking, 25–26, 116, 132.
See also upper floors of Mood Elevator
Hofer, Jack L., 110
hope/hopefulness, 86, 160–161, 163–164
hostility, 49
The How of Happiness (Lyubomirsky), 126–127
human condition, 5
human dashboard, 42–45
humility, 141–142
humor/laughter, 93–96
ideas, original, 30–32
illnesses/diseases. See physical fitness
illusionist example, 29
imagination, 18–19, 165–166
impatience, 43, 84
impulses, emotional, 59–61
injustice, 141
innate health, 175, 176–178
inner dialogue, making a movie in your head, 18–21
innocence, assuming, 150–153
innovative thinking, 65, 85–86
insecurity, 85
insights, new, 31
integrity, 35, 52
intelligence, collective, 31
intensity, 47, 48
Internet, 31, 102
irritation/being bothered, 6, 7, 9, 10, 54
avoiding, 100
boiling-frog metaphor, 45–46, 47
with judgmentalism, 141, 171
justifying, 149
letting go of, 150–151
managing, 81, 97–98, 100, 122, 168, 171–172
prolonged, 91
reacting with, 61, 64, 84–85, 89–90, 144, 145–147
reactions to feeling, 85, 89–90
relationships and, 172–173
See also rigidity
J.D. Power award, 32
JL Hudson, 53–54
John Templeton Foundation, 126
journal writing, 126, 128
judgmentalism, 61–65, 66, 85, 141, 149–150
karma, 172
Killingsworth, Matthew, 118
Kramer, Arthur F., 105
laughter/humor, 93–96
L Brands, 36–37
learning from experiences, 58–59
Leonard, Jon N., 110
life challenges, 130–133
lifestyle choices, 113
lighter thinking, 96–98
little things in life, 91–93
Live Longer Now (Leonard, Hofer, and Pritikin), 110
losing your cool, 28–29
love, unconditional, 133
lower floors of the Mood Elevator, 6, 9, 11, 84–85
impatience, 43
line between upper floors and, 58
nature of thoughts on, 115
worry, 44
lower-level thinking, 25, 78, 97, 116
low-mood states, 75–76, 171–173, 177
doing down well analogy, 166, 169
imagination and, 165–166
reliability of thinking in, 166–168
luck factor, 173–174
The Luck Factor (Wiseman), 173
Lyubomirsky, Sonja, 126–127
mantras, 119
meaning of faith, 163–164
memories, 30–31, 138
mental eddies, 72
mental fitness
recovery cycle, 102–105
stretch-and-recover cycle for, 101–102
See also physical fitness
mental movies, 18–21
mental traction, maintaining your, 28–29
Microsoft, 64
mild preferences, 91–93, 97
mind/body connection, 70
mind principle, 50
mind, principles of, 90
mind-sets, 27–28, 35, 128–129
mistakes, 76, 145–146
mood drivers
deep breathing, 70
exercise, 70
organizational values, 33–39
self-talk, 72
sleep, 69
sources of, 13–17
thoughts as, 19–21, 23–24
Mood Elevator concept
braking system in, 58–59
as feelings barometer, 42
floors of the, 5–6, 7
pocket card for, 45
pointers for riding the Mood Elevator, 175–178
reflecting on role of, 8
relationship among floors of, 11–12
riding the, 4–5
in Taking People with You (Novak), 38
mood(s)
awareness of your, 44
changing your, 32
choosing which to feed, 84–87
contagiousness of, 70–71
feeling down (See low-mood states) habitual, 47
influence on others of, 71–72
of others, 29–30
thinking as creator of, 41
See also depression
motivation(s), drivers of, 81
movies in your mind, 18–21, 68
mustard seed analogy, 161–162
National Institutes of Health, 112
natural state, 27–28, 178
negative thoughts/feelings, 24, 73–75, 78–82. See also pattern interrupts
non–rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, 103
normal. See unhealthy-normal states
Norville, Deborah, 128
Novak, David, 38
NREM (non–rapid eye movement) sleep, 103
nutrition/diet, 109–114
Obama, Barack, 39
off time, 117
optimism, 83, 86, 164
organizational culture, 34, 39, 51–54
organizational payoffs of going up the Mood Elevator, 32–34
organizational values, 33–39
original ideas, 30–32
outcomes, seeking the right, 157–159
overriding emotions, 122–123
patience, 86–87
pattern interrupts
example of, 67–69
failures of, 75–76
focusing on higher purpose, 73–75
using, 177
varieties of, 69–73
with worry, 79
patterns, recognizing unhealthy, 55
payoffs. See organizational payoffs of going up the Mood Elevator; personal payoffs of going up the Mood Elevator
perception(s)
appreciating others’, 142
differing, 138–139, 140
See also perspective(s)
performance, sleep deprivation and, 102–103
personal payoffs of going up the Mood Elevator
access to original ideas, 30–32
maintaining your mental traction, 28–29
reconnecting with your best self, 27–28
for understanding power of thought, 24–26
perspective(s)
acceptance of differing, 141
on adverse events, 159
appreciating others’, 142–144
>
changes in, 134–135
developing a sense of, 93
gratitude, 122–124
how to state your, 143
putting problems into, 95–96
regaining, 30
separate realities, 139–142
on your mood, 76
petitionary prayer, 157
physical fitness, 44
exercise, 70, 105–109
food choices, 109–114
getting enough sleep, 102–105
importance of, 100, 177
stretch-and-recover cycle, 101–102
through gratitude, 125
pleasure, 8–9
point of view. See perspective(s)
positive emotions, 8–9
positive intentions, 144–148
positive thoughts
attention to, 163–164
living in mild preference for, 92–93
Post, Stephen, 125
power of thought
effect on emotions, 19–21
payoffs from understanding, 24–26
reducing the, 21
Pransky, George, 49–50
Pransky, Linda, 49
prayer, petitionary, 157
principles of mind, thought, consciousness, 50, 90, 92
Pritikin, Nathan, 110–112
Pritikin diet, 111–112
problems/problem solving
going up the Mood Elevator for, 25–26
during REM sleep, 104
sources of solutions, 32
purpose, finding your higher, 73–75
Quickie wheelchairs, 156–157
quiet mind
for accessing gratitude, 128–129
being here now, 116–118
breathing technique for, 119–120
Quiet Your Mind (Selby), 120
rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, 103–104
reactions
assumptions as drivers of, 149–150
to confusing events, 60–61
emotion-based, 152–153
irritation/being bothered, 61, 64, 84–85, 89–90, 144, 145–147
as mood drivers, 15
pausing before, 97
reading interpretation example, 59–61
reality(ies), living in separate, 139–142
reconnecting with your best self, 27–28
recovery periods, 101–102, 116
relationships
attention to your feelings in, 49
changes in thinking about different, 16–17
dysfunctional, 172
family, 129, 172
fostering good, 173–174
ground rules for, 167–168
irritation/bother within, 90–91
living in mild preference for, 93
making friends, not enemies, 172
mutually supportive, 35
positive and negative, 71–72
skills for, 173–174
ties between Mood
Elevator and, 172–173
unhealthy normal and, 49–50
using the Mood Elevator for building, 171–173
The Relaxation Response (Benson), 119–120
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, 103–104
resistance training, 107–108
riding the Mood Elevator, 4–6, 175–178
right outcomes, praying for, 157
right thinking, 163
right/wrong dynamic, 53, 62–63
rigidity, 90, 93–96, 98
risk taking, 35
rivalry, culture of, 52–53
Robles, Josue “Joe,” Jr., 38–39
rumors, anxiety caused by, 1–4
rushing to judgment, 62
seeing is believing, 137–138
Selby, John, 120
self-actualization, 123
self-awareness, 44
self-care, 100
self-centered mind-set, 27
self-confidence, 161–162
self-destructive way of life, 48
self-interest, 52
self-reflection, flow times during, 26
self-reinforcement, 75
self-talk, 72
Seligman, Martin, 128
Senn Delaney, 5, 18, 20, 32, 46, 51–54, 131, 148, 152, 159, 169. See also culture shaping
separate realities, 139–142, 177
set point
for happiness, 126–127
on the Mood Elevator, 99–100, 108–109
sleep, 69, 102–105, 109
small stuff, 90, 91–93, 130
Smith, Ray, 52–53
snap judgments, 64
solutions. See problems/problem solving
Southwest Airlines example, 94–96
Spencer, Rebecca, 103–104
spirit, positive, 35
standards, 62, 90, 92, 161
state of grace, 134
states of health, 48
states of mind
being state, 116–117
grace, 134
habitual emotional states, 47–48
higher mood states, 172–173
natural state, 27–28, 178
See also mood(s); unhealthy-normal states
strength training, 107–108
stress
effects of, 7, 8, 10, 78, 147, 167
managing, 32, 66, 68, 72, 94–95, 103, 108, 117, 164
recovery from, 116
responses to, 28
sources of, 100, 132
stretch-and-recover cycle, 101–102
stretching, 107–108
subjectivity, 139–140
success
enjoyment of life for, 24
higher levels of Mood Elevator and, 10–11
in life and organizations, 39
teams/teamwork
collaboration, 52, 172
culture shaping with, 104
team members, 148–150
Thank You Power (Norville), 128
thought principle, 50
thoughts/thinking
as barrier to success, 162–163
being in the zone, 26
categories of our, 30
changes in, 16, 84
choosing what to focus on, 124
clearing your mind, 25–26
faith as driver of, 161–162
faulty thinking, 96–98
feeding your thoughts, 78, 177
habits of, 27–28, 176
higher-quality, 24
influence on emotions of, 23
innovative, 65
listening to your, 41
in low-mood states, 166–168
memory-based, 31
negative, 24, 73–75, 78–82
power of, 19–20
principles of, 90
quality of our, 25
reliability of your, 42
role in shaping attitudes and behaviors of, 151–152
switching your train of thought, 67–69
thinking more lightly, 96–98
understanding power of, 24–26
See also pattern interrupts
time off, 117
traction example, 29
train of thought, 67
transparency, 35
tug-of-war example, 29
unconditional gratitude, 133–135
unconscious habits, 53
unconsciousness, unhealthy-normal state and, 45–49
understanding others, 86–87, 144. See also perspective(s)
unhappiness, habitual, 47
unhealthy behaviors, 33, 176
unhealthy-normal states
identifying your, 54–55
in organizations, 51–54
phenomenon of, 45–49
in relationships, 49–50
in thought patterns, 176
unconsciousness, 45–49
warning signs, 54–56
upper floors of Mood Elevator, 5–6, 8–9, 11
benefits of, 99
examples of living on, 144–148
line between low
er floors and, 58
mental fitness and, 101–102
USAA, 38–39
USA Today, 64
use it or lose it principle, 105–108
us-versus-them mentality, 172
values, organizational, 33–39
views, differing, 139–142
violence, 141
wandering mind, 118, 120.
See also quiet mind
“A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind” (Killingsworth and Gilbert), 117
Warren Distribution Center, 53–54
water supply example, 68–69
Wexner, Les, 37–38
win-lose and win-win dynamics, 27, 33, 35, 53, 173
Wiseman, Richard, 173
wolf legend, 77
work time, 117
worry/anxiety
example (John’s story), 1–4, 14, 15–16, 41
feeding/starving, 78–79, 85
as mood driver, 15
as motivator, 79
recognizing onset of, 72
recovery from, 116
sources of, 2
stopping the worry cycle, 44
See also emotions/feelings
yoga, 108
YUM! Brands, 38
About the Author
Larry Senn, PhD, is a father, grandfather, husband, author, lecturer, CEO coach, and fitness enthusiast. He is the founder and chair of Senn Delaney, a Heidrick & Struggles company, and the oldest, most experienced, and most successful organizational culture–shaping firm in the world.
Dr. Senn has been referred to in business journals as “the father of corporate culture.” His early experience in running a traditional consulting firm led him to conclude that too many organizations were like dysfunctional families. He saw that the habits of well-intentioned people reduced both the spirit and the performance of even the best organizations. It made them less fulfilling places to work, and it made getting results harder than need be.
That realization inspired the first research ever conducted on the concept of corporate culture as a part of Larry’s doctoral dissertation, published in 1970. It led to an early personal vision of finding a way to enhance the lives of people, the effectiveness of teams, and the spirit and performance of organizations. That vision became Senn Delaney.
Because organizational transformation requires personal transformation, concepts and processes were developed that touched individuals. Participants found that the concepts of leadership effectiveness were also principles of life effectiveness.
The Mood Elevator was one of those concepts. It is the one that has been most universally embraced, retained, and used by people in their lives at work and at home. To date, nearly a million people in 40 countries around the world have been exposed to the Mood Elevator. They have been part of the Senn Delaney process in organizations of all kinds, from business corporations, to hospitals, to schools and universities, to governments at all levels.
This is Senn Delaney’s vision today: To positively impact the world by inspiring leaders to create thriving cultures that enhance the spirit and performance of organizations.
The aim of this book is to better support all of the people who have been exposed to Senn Delaney concepts and to take the Mood Elevator to individuals in the world beyond Senn Delaney’s client organizations.