How to Be Happier

It's harder than you think.

Studies show that we all have a fairly stable baseline for long-term happiness.
In other words, regardless if something amazing or something tragic happens to you, within a few months, you will tend to return to roughly the same level of happiness as before.

That's really great news if you're happy with your current overall level of happiness.
However, if you, like most of us, wish you could have more long-term happiness, what can you do?

Research has found that one of the most effective ways of increasing your happiness level boils down to one word:  gratitude.

There's a study on gratitude written about in Robert Emmon's book, Thanks!:  How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier.  Emmons took 200 people, split them up into three groups and asked each of them to make a list every week for ten weeks.

1. The first group was asked to list five things in their life they were grateful for.
2. The second group was asked to list five hassles in their life that annoyed them.
3. The third group was asked to list five things that had an impact on them.

Those in the gratitude group were significantly happier than those in the other two groups.  They felt better about their lives overall, were more optimistic about the upcoming week, had less physical complaints and also spent more time exercising.

I try as much as possible to keep a gratitude journal.  I used to jot a few things down everyday in my journal that I was grateful for, but lately, I've been putting them in this pretty neat app I found.

It looks like this, and also has inspiring quotes and a place to put your own photos:

My challenge for you today- jot down three things that you are grateful for.  It only takes a second, it helps remind you of the positive things in your life, and it can increase your overall happiness.

What are three things you are grateful for today?

What You Have Now Was Once What You Only Hoped For

I love today's quote of the day.  We are sometimes so caught up in wanting more and more, that we often forget to stop and appreciate what we have.  The irony is there was once a point in the past that all we wanted was exactly what we have.

Take a moment and appreciate all that you have and just how far you've come.

TED Talk Tuesday: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.

Louie Schwartzberg has been shooting time-lapse photography 24/7 for the past 30 years.
His unfolding and evolving images are breathtaking.

His message is equally as inspiring.
In this TED Talk, he draws the connections between nature, beauty and gratitude.

"Beauty and seduction is nature's tools for survival, because we protect what we fall in love with.  It opens our hearts and makes us realize we are a part of nature and we are not separate from it.  When we see ourselves in nature, it also connects us to every one of us because it is clear that it is all connected and one."

 The second part of his video introduces his new project, Happiness Revealed.  It is a moving short film on gratitude and happiness, told through the point of view of a child and an elderly man.

"You think this is just another day in your life, it's not just another day.  It's the one day that is given to you today.  It's given to you.  It's a gift.  It's the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness." 

What are you grateful for today?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I made the turkey this year!

Haha, if you know me and my cooking skills, you'll know that is a completely laughable statement.

I did, however, make a Cantaloupe Turkey!  Thanks to inspiration from Disney Family Fun, we made this AWESOME turkey of fruit:

One of these days, I'll work up to the real thing.  Baby steps!

I love Thanksgiving.  It's like a break in our hectic lives where we can just stop for a moment and appreciate the things in our lives that we so often take for granted.

Here are some of the things I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

My family and friends.

My sister is visiting us for this Thanksgiving.  Yay!

Having a body that allows me to jump, take crazy adventures, and take me wherever my heart desires.

Having an amazing husband that is truly my best friend.  Despite the fact that we drive each other bonkers some time, I can't imagine going through this awesome adventure of life with anyone but him.

Plus, he makes an awesome Fat Elvis!

Living on a magical island that has an overabundance of gorgeous rainbows.

Photo by Kengo Ueno

To have a job that highlights my strengths, where I work with with people that are not only truly talented and great people, but are also lots of FUN! 

This are my coworkers.  Seriously.  Aren't they rad?

Live in a country where I am truly free.  Where the right to voice my opinion is not only protected, but encouraged.

My awesome dogs.

Moxie and Rocco

TED Talks.  And being able to go to one LIVE this year!.

Technology.  

I am constantly how much it has increased our possibilities & enhanced our lives.

Finally, I am so grateful for all of you who are reading this blog.  I've wanted to start writing again, and this blog has been such a great way to get back into it.  Thank you all for checking it out and for all the great feedback.  A special thanks to Donnie for the inspiration.

...................

Last thing, I stumbled on this great website, Epic Thanks that is "a world-changing photoblog of global gratitude."  They ask you to post a image of something you're grateful for.  Scrolling though it is both humbling and inspiring.  I'm posting on there, and I encourage you to do too.

...................

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!