I have always loved this song by Heather Small and try to live by its message. I defy you to feel anything but a little bit happier if you aim to something every day to make you feel proud. The Olympic torch came through my town yesterday so I though it was appropriate to show the new London 2012 version of this song. The 9th Happiness Experiment is to do something every day that you are proud of – you don’t need to win an Olympic medal but I’m sure you will think of something. Why don’t you give it a try?
What is your idea of a perfect day? Imagine a normal day which is not a holiday and take a look at what would constitute a perfect day for you. Look at the day in detail imagining what you would do from getting up in the morning to going to sleep at night. Live through the day in the present tense and in detail and write down your ideas. Think about what you are doing, where you are and who you are spending time with. How close are you to achieving this ideal day in your normal everyday life? What is one thing you can do today to get you closer to your ideal life? The first step to happiness is knowing what you want in life. Try this happiness experiment and see if you can come closer to living your perfect day every day of the week.
“Thousands of candles can be lit from one single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”Buddha
When is the last time you helped someone? Whether it was a large gesture or something small that brightened another person’s day, how did it make you feel?
The psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky instructed participants in a study to to practice acts of kindness during each week either for people they knew personally or for strangers. The acts of kindness could be carried out either openly or secretly and could be either spontaneous or planned. The study demonstrated that the participants enjoyed a significant increase in their well-being. The participants who were asked to constantly vary their acts of kindness and to carry them out on one single day of the week rather than spreading them over the week benefitted the most.
Try out this happiness experiment for yourself: on any day this week perform at least 5 acts of kindness beyond what you normally do. You will see that you derive so much benefit from your generous actions that it could be argued that there is no more selfish act than a generous act. Have fun with this happiness experiment and give it a try – you will be amazed at how it makes you feel. You can watch this wonderful short video by Life Vest Inside for inspiration.
