Marci Shimoff Speaks on Love & Happiness
What is the happiness set-point you talk about in Happy for No Reason?
Our happiness set-point is like a setting on a thermostat. It doesn’t matter what happens outside of us, we return to that thermostat setting, the happiness set-point. We can win the lottery, and we may be happier for a short time, but we’ll return to our happiness set point within about a year. The same is true of trauma. But we all have the ability to change that happiness set point. That’s the best thing! I’ve delineated 21 main happiness habits that anyone can practice to raise their happiness set point.
If someone were reading this article, what would be the five happiness habits you’d share to get them started?
Out of these 21 habits, we all are fantastic at five of them. We’re all really bad at five of them. And the other 11 are in the middle. But they’re different for each of us. So look at those 21 habits, and see where you’re the weakest, and start there. But if I had to pick five habits that are the most universal, here they are:
Gratitude. What we put our attention on grows stronger in our life. When you’re grateful, you’re focused on the good, so you get more of the good, and it becomes a habit. You start noticing it more, and it starts showing up more.
Forgiveness. As long as we are holding on to anger, resentment, or a grudge, we have a block to experiencing happiness. So we don’t forgive other people for their sake. We forgive for own sake, because it’s good for us.
