Cristian Bârsan

One of my favorite books is “Solve for Happy” by Mo Gawdat.
Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google’s [X] – which is a division that focuses on moonshots🚀 (think 10X not 10%) – uses logic to crack the happiness code. Mo, once unhappy despite his corporate success, tackled it like an engineer. Years later, his happiness formula helped him cope with his son’s death.

I found the happiness formula very inspiring for my Growth Mindset mission.
The formula is: Happiness ≥ Events – Expectations

Here’s how this connects to a Growth Mindset:

Lowering Expectations: a core principle of a Growth Mindset is understanding that abilities can be developed. This means focusing on how much I can improve (“I can become a better leader!”) instead of assuming limitations (“I’m a bad leader”). It makes learning less stressful and happiness more achievable.

Gratitude Focus: when I focus on appreciating what I have (positive perception), it naturally reduces the weight of what I miss (lowering expectations). This shift makes challenges seem less intimidating and setbacks less discouraging, fostering my growth mindset.

Taking Ownership: the formula highlights that happiness is within my control. It’s about how I perceive events, not what actually happens. This aligns with the Growth Mindset belief that I can influence my outcomes through effort and learning.

I always need to remember, the formula is about managing expectations, not eliminating them. It’s about having goals but being happy with the journey of growth, not just the destination. This creates a foundation for a growth mindset where challenges are seen as opportunities to learn and improve.