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Happy Life Tip of the Week, Issue #106-Lollipops March 30, 2011 |
Give and receive small pleasures frequently to enjoy the benefits of a happy life.What is the value of an infinitesimal boost to your happiness? For doctors, the small gift of a lollipop helped them solve tricky diagnosis problems 25% faster than those who did not get the gift first. The doctors were not even allowed to eat the lollipop to make sure high blood sugar did not interfere with the test results. Just that one small gift increased happiness enough to make a big positive difference in performance. You can download the first chapter of the book, Happiness First , and find 10 other benefits of happiness and a dozen other ways to induce it. What does it take to measurably lift your sprits? If a lollipop can make that kind of difference, just imagine what a difference a kiss or a heart-felt compliment could make. The beauty of these small gifts is that the person giving it away gets as much pleasure out of the interaction as the person receiving so pleasure is doubled. Many people get a boost of pleasure from their pets. When I first started increasing my personal happiness level with a biofeedback machine , I had the greatest success by petting my dogs first. Sometimes, something as simple as looking at a list of happy words can do the trick. In spring, a 5 minute walk appreciating the sun and new flowers, or the April showers that bring May flowers, can give you a boost. The key to maximizing the impact of these little boosts is to be aware of them. Let them influence your mood. When you give a compliment, give yourself a second or two to enjoy the sudden smile on the face of the person who receives it. Let yourself be carried away by the joy of a daffodil for a full 3 seconds. Then at the end of your day, spend 15 – 30 seconds recalling all the small little joys you experienced, and you will see the sun come out in your internal landscape. Give and receive small pleasures frequently to enjoy the benefits of a happy life.Affirmation I am aware of many moments of pleasure and happiness in my days. I freely give smiles and compliments to others to pass the happiness along. Journal or Meditation Question How many brief moments of happiness did I experience today. Was I aware of them at the time? How often do I smile at someone or compliment them during my day? How could I benefit from doing it more? To Subscribe
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