What are you grateful for today?

Andy took off his headphones the other day and said "T, you should really listen to this TED talk. It's all about happiness and is really interesting". I murmured something like Uh huh.

And then as an afterthought Andy added, you know you already do all the things it says.

Now I was interested. What did I do that the TED talk says you should do to be happy? Is this just a part of my personality? Is that why I'm often seen as the optimist?

Turns out there are five things that you can do to help make yourself happier.

1. Exercise

2. Writing down 3 things you are grateful for every day

3. Journaling

4. Random acts of kindness

5. Meditation

The theory goes that the more you make your brain focus on the good things in life, the more it will see the good things that you previously didn't. And that makes you happier. And so it goes.

If you try and be successful, then once you've hit your goal you just change it, so you're constantly looking for happiness but the goals are always changing.

It was a really interesting talk.

Anyway, I started writing this because I'm happy today. Really happy. I did something that was unusual for me last week and it's leading me somewhere very cool. I've got some cakes I'm making for one of my charities to be delivered on Wed/Thurs. I've finished what I 'have' to for now and I can get on with some other deadlines and maybe even get them finished before time is due.

And it's really good to feel on top of things.

And as always I started thinking about why and how and all those 'deep questions' and thought Mmmmmm, that Ted Talk sounds a little bit like what's going on for me. If these things help me, then perhaps they might help someone else.

You're welcome. Grin.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

being grateful for the little things has changed my whole perspective on life. i was so negative but a combination of those things changed me too, as does reading about the acts of kindness of others ;) your happiness does rub off on others... thank you xx

[Hannah]

Definitely a good way of thinking. I have a "Gratitude Journal" that I {try to} write in every day. It's ALWAYS possible to think of at least 5 things I am grateful for - even if it has been a crappy day.

[mandyb]

i think i remember hearing somethiing like this at a staff meeting....very cool!!!