Well, it must be video week - I continue to discover the gems hidden in the treasure trove called YouTube.

This video, The Happiness Advantage (click on the link to play it as it can't be embedded), from Shawn Achor, a researcher and teacher of positive psychology from Harvard University is a part of his series on The Science of Happiness.

Warning - the video is very loud when it first starts!

What brings this particular video home is the emphasis on the relationship between physician happiness and productivity, speed of reaching a diagnosis, and quality of medical care provided. You'll spend an insightful 10 minutes listening.

The rest of the series bears listening too (check them out on the right hand side of the YouTube page -- they're 8 to 9 minutes long each) - they present a somber view of the rate of depression in contemporary America, as well as a fascinating insight into how our brains function when hardwired for happiness. Medical students and physicians feature prominently in these stories too!

The short and sweet version - those who are happy outperform those who are unhappy by 50%. You are more creative AND more intelligence by all measures when you are happy. You are much less likely to burn out despite external stress. There is a true happiness advantage!

Isn't it worth trying to put a smile on your face?