Today, I continue my theme of stealing PsyBlog’s continuing theme.Â
http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/10-grateful-steps-to-happiness.php#comments
A lot of them are cheesy, a couple of them are silly, but in general I thought it was nice to wrap up the series with some practical tips you could apply.
Dan Gilbert, no relation, offers a sort of brilliant lecture on the nature of happiness.
Just recently, I saw a study confirming this effect in college students with relationship breakups. (http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/breaking-may-not-be-hard-song-says-13974.html) But, the lecture is more entertaining and gives a much broader appreciation of the issue.
Just for balance, breaking up can have serious consequences. (http://www.physorg.com/news107623870.html)
This is an excellent presentation of a work I was already familiar with, and that intuitively every major religion on Earth (including secular humanism) had already embraced.
http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/practicing-gratitude-can-increase.php
Turns out that the mere act of trying to be grateful for what you have, makes you happier with what you have. This is one more case showing just how much power we have to reprogram the human mind.
More options might not be making you happier.Â
Next, some equally interesting news on what might make you happy after all.