A Tip for Increased Happiness

A tip for increased happiness

Who wouldn't like to be happier?  I have discovered something so small, that takes just a moment a day really, that has helped me feel so much happier in my life!  The idea came from one of my favorite speakers, Stuart Hughes, who gave a talk on ‘radical gratitude’.  When I looked up the term ‘radical’ I found that the synonyms were words like thorough, complete, total, far-reaching, extensive and profound. Radical gratitude.  Put any of these synonyms with it and it sounds like something wonderful!  

While going through a very rough time in my life I decided to implement ‘radical gratitude’.  It was too easy a concept not to try.  Here is what you do: Every morning think of 3 things that you are grateful for.  Never use the same thing twice.  I am a praying person, so I just put this at the beginning of my prayer every morning.  3 things.  Every morning different.  I was amazed at the things that I came up with.  I began to see my life through different eyes.  I began to realize how truly lucky I am.  I began to realize what a beautiful life I have. I have been doing this exercise now for almost a year.  My mind is now in the habit of looking for things to be grateful for; not just first thing in the morning, but throughout the day, almost as if it is looking for things to store up for me to say in the morning.  As a result I have become happier.  Happier because I realize how blessed I am, how good I have it, how much I have.  I see so much positive, and it feels so good to see it and appreciate it.  I feel like before in my life I had all these good things, but I didn't really see them.  Now I am beginning to see, and it is incredible!  Like having your eyes opened to a whole new world.  Such a small thing to do.  Such an amazing difference in my life!