Name: Perspective is everything
Uploaded: 2012-05-04T15:07:48Z
Duration: 18 min 7 s
Description: The circumstances of our lives may matter less than how we see them, says Rory Sutherland. At TEDxAthens, he makes a compelling case for how reframing is the key to happiness.

The circumstances of our lives may matter less than how we see them, says Rory Sutherland. At TEDxAthens, he makes a compelling case for how reframing is the key to happiness.

Perspective is everything

Happiness and satisfaction often hinge less on circumstances than on how those circumstances are framed. A pensioner and an unemployed young person may share the same lifestyle, but one finds joy while the other feels despair, simply because of how they interpret their situation. Even massive investments in infrastructure can pale next to affordable psychological tweaks, like adding countdown clocks in subways to reduce commuter stress. The true power lies in recognizing and harnessing the influence of perception on everything from tax, and public services, to daily happiness.