There’s a misconception out there that happiness is fixed and we can’t do much to change it, but that’s just not true. While money can’t actually buy happiness, at least part of it is within our control. And it turns out the secret to finding it may not be as complicated as you think.
There are several science-backed ways to help boost your own feelings of contentment and it turns out, one of the easiest ways to do it literally only takes a few minutes a day. Ready for it? Write down what you’re grateful for … it’s just that simple. Research shows that writing down three good things that happened to you and why they happened at the end of the day can lead to long-term increases in happiness and decreases in depressive symptoms.
The things you write down can be major - like a job promotion, minor - like you saw a cute dog on a walk today, or somewhere in the middle. And just writing those gratitude-inspiring things down helps to train your mind to focus on the positive parts of your life, rather than the annoying and frustrating parts. Study participants who did it for a month reported feeling happier than when they started and stayed that way for months beyond the study. So take time to count your blessings and science says it could have an uplifting impact on your wellbeing.
Source: CNet
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