Research tells us that when we do something kind for someone else, we feel more compassionate, energetic, and happier overall. Typically, when we think of an act of kindness, we think of things like holding the door for someone or donating money to charity. But there are so many … [Read more...] about 9 random acts of kindness you can do daily
happiness
10 simple things you can do to boost your mood (according to experts)
All of us have days when it's hard to get out of bed, and it feels like nothing we do makes a difference. These ups and downs are part of life but learning how to cope with the down days can benefit our entire life, even when we wake up happy. Since The Optimist Daily is all … [Read more...] about 10 simple things you can do to boost your mood (according to experts)
How to overcome the 5 mental obstacles that stand in the way of happiness
In the book "The Five Hurdles to Happiness", author Mitch Ablett sets off to describe five reactive mental habits originally identified in ancient meditative traditions. Though these habits evolved for important reasons—to keep us safe from danger, for example—many of us find … [Read more...] about How to overcome the 5 mental obstacles that stand in the way of happiness
World Happiness Report shines a light in dark times
The past few years have been incredibly challenging for the world, though it turns out we’re doing better than you might think! According to an international research project, levels of social support and benevolence actually increased in this difficult time. This year is the … [Read more...] about World Happiness Report shines a light in dark times
Stop comparing yourself to others. Try this instead
As the old saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy—and humans love joy! So, why is it that we so often suffer from the tenacious tendency to compare ourselves to others? This impulse to compare is called “social comparison,” and there are two ways in which we engage with … [Read more...] about Stop comparing yourself to others. Try this instead