Do you want to feel happier?

What does happiness mean to you? This can be answered differently, as people’s personal experiences will define the essence of happiness. Happiness is personal.  The dictionary says it’s the state of being happy.

Can we influence this state of feeling happy?

An interesting study, at Harvard University, shows how we can increase our (experience of) happiness by starting the day and focusing on what we’re grateful for, for 30 days in a row.

It takes about 30 days to change a habit, so it’s best to do this for that time.  I have tried this multiple times throughout my life and was amazed by the effects. 

Many resources will tell you to not focus on the same gratitude riddle every day, as your brain gets used to it. Just like a painting you have in your home for a while and your brains do not pay attention to over time. So, it’s important to use variations of gratitude lists, and you can include anything you are grateful for breathing, a roof over your head, friends, a car, etc. When I did the 30-day challenge (I am still doing it), I used a daily routine that included meditation, so I wouldn’t forget about it. The first time I did this – about 15 years ago- I was compelled by the effects. My perception of life started to change, and my brain started to focus more on what is there, rather than what is not there.  

Sometimes I can recommend hiring a life coach or a counselor to help change a habit, as it can not always be the easiest thing to do.

The beauty of this change within yourself is that you affect your environment as well. When you feel happier, be more optimistic, and make more positive comments and compliments, it will have a ripple effect on people around you. From co-workers to family members, your partner, people at the register, etc.
Going back to our Harvard happiness professor: here are some other interesting comments, he said 

✅ If you are unhappy at work, you’re probably unhappy in life 

✅ Social media is catastrophic for happiness. It gives lots of calories and not much nutrition. 

✅ When you feel lonely, get up, go outside, get vitamin D, call your friends (don’t cocoon on your couch) 

✅ Happiness is 3 things: enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose. 

Why did I decide to write about happiness? I like to give a sparkle of hope. Namely, during the holiday months, the rate of depression is higher. In addition, at our agencies ABA Works and ABA Courses, we serve a vulnerable community, as often the number of stressors in their life is high. Furthermore, the clinicians, and other care workers, involved in ABA, sometimes have a hard time letting go of the stressors involved with the job.

Professor Arthur C. Brooks, said, happiness is contagious. If you, the reader of this blog, can get inspired by the text, and inspire others, you can create a powerful change within yourself and others around you. That’s an amazing holiday gift.  

** Arthur C. Brooks, professor at Harvard, wrote many great books about happiness. One of his last books is a NY Times bestseller, titled: “Build the life you want: the art and science of getting happier.”