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The Happiness Habit

“People with high happiness set-points are humans just like the rest of us. They don’t have special powers, an extra heart, or x-ray vision. They just have different habits. It’s that simple. Psychologists say that at least 90 percent of all behavior is habitual. So, to become happier, you need to look at your habits.” ~Marci Shimoff

In Marci Shimoff’s book Happiness for No Reason, she talks about a series of tools and ideas to lead a happy life. The book contains many intuitive ideas that are easy to follow and are very inspiring.

One simple tool she talked about is in creating small habits, which will gradually help to not only stabilize our lives but also result in us feeling happier. Here’s a related quote from her book:

“In 1977, Dr. Michael Fordyce, a psychologist and author of ‘The Psychology of Happiness,’ published the groundbreaking results of his experiment showing that students asked to study the habits of happy people actually increased their happiness and life satisfaction by just learning about the subject.”

The trick is in developing one habit at a time, and only move on to another after one habit has been established. For me, the problem I’ve had in the past is in trying to do too much. I need to just commit to and focus on cultivating one simple habit.

I asked myself the simple question, “What one habit can I develop that will significantly improve the quality of my life?”

Following the problem solving technique I’ve written about here, I started jotting down answers that came to mind. Here are some answers:

• Wake up early
• Go to bed early
• Write for 30-60 minutes first thing in the morning
• Read for at least 30 minutes daily
• Keeping an organized living space
• Morning routine
• Gratitude
• Meditation

Now, I know that if I can incorporate all of these into my daily habits, it will really help me to be established in happiness. But, I also know that if I tried to incorporate all of these, I won’t succeed in any, and will be left feeling guilty for having failed.

So for now, the one habit I will focus on is to go to bed early, and visualize all that I am grateful for before falling asleep.  I feel that if I can get the early-bed time habit, then I’ll have a higher chance at waking up early, and to develop a healthy morning routine.

Let’s see how I do. I’ll report back soon. :)

Photo by Kyle Kruchok

Happiness for No Reason, she talks about a series of tools and ideas to lead a happy life. The book contains many intuitive ideas that are easy to follow and are very inspiring.

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