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The Three Things Happiness Exercise

2/9/2018

10 Comments

 
"In our day-to-day lives, it's easy to get caught up in the things that go wrong and feel like we're living under our own private rain cloud; at the same time, we tend to adapt to the good things and people in our lives, taking them for granted. In the process, we frequently miss opportunities for happiness and connection." ~ Three Good Things

Try the Three Things Exercise


Before reading more, take a moment to identify three good things you have experienced in the past day or so.

Write down what made them good, and how you feel right now, as you remember them. Once you have done that, come back here & I'll tell you more about it.

But first, I'll share my three. Only read them, though, if you have thought of yours already. I don't want to throw you off by distracting you with my own examples.

Also, I wrote this post days ago, so "yesterday" is probably the weekend....

(1) The day before yesterday, I went to my mom's house and since my aunt was visiting, got to hang out and laugh with them both. I feel so, so grateful for the experience!

My mom has been ill, and does not laugh nearly as much as she did before, so seeing her face light up & hearing her laugh was beautiful.

(2) When I woke up yesterday morning it was dark and dreary. And it took me a while, plus nudges from online friends, to remember that I could still make my day cozy.

Once I did, I lit several candles, turned on soft lighting and made gingerbread tea (my favorite). I know I was happier all day because of the cozy atmosphere I created, and I can feel those moments of happiness now as I remember. And I am grateful to and for those friends.

(3) Our plan for dinner was veggie burgers and fries, last night, but we forgot to get the spread I usually put on my veggie burgers.

Well, I thought of heating up butter and parmesan cheese just to have something to put on it, but I wasn't sure it would work. But boy, did it. It was yummy!

My son wanted to make it and he got a bit enthusiastic about the cheese, but it was still really good. I can still remember the surprised pleasure from that first taste.

Btw, I believe the article suggests a 24-hour period, but I think anything from the past few days would be okay. And if something pops into your mind from several days ago, I say, just be glad you remembered it. :)

Now, if you have your three things, too, and have written them down, read on...


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"By listing three positive things that have happened in your day--and considering what caused them--you tune into the sources of goodness in your life." - same source

In a research study, people who did this exercise reported an increase in feelings of happiness right after doing it (did you notice that, yourself?)

But they also felt happier after a week, a month and 6 months later. Worth a try, right? I wonder what 6 months later would feel like.

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine

P.S. I swooped back in to update this post because I noticed a few mistakes & I decided to pause for a moment to think of 3 more good things in real time.

They surprised me & I have learned something. I think of myself as a loner, but every memory from the past few days that popped into my head had my son or my mom in it.

Family + hygge = my recipe for happiness, apparently. What's your recipe?
10 Comments
Megan Jerrard
2/9/2018 04:56:09 pm

First off, I'm sorry to hear that your mum has been ill, and I wish her a speedy recovery. I love this idea of writing down and identifying three good things, and I think we might be a lot happier if we made this a daily thing; youre right, it's so easy to get caught up in the day to day crap, which is really quite meaningless, but affects our mood so negatively. This exercise is so simple in it's concept, but so powerful. Thanks!

Reply
Jeanine Byers link
2/10/2018 01:58:13 am

Thank you, Megan!! I think you're right; this would make a great daily exercise.

Reply
Alice Gerard link
2/10/2018 12:38:52 am

I hope that your mom feels better soon!
Here are three good things from me:
My friend told me that there was a whitefish for sale at the supermarket so we both went and bought some. I had enough for two days. I found a recipe online... and... um... so delicious.
I found these oranges at the same store that I'd never heard of. They are called "raspberry oranges." They were on sale. I bought a bunch. They are actually a dark red. Little and so delicious.
The winter Olympics are starting. Yay!

Reply
Jeanine Byers link
2/10/2018 02:00:36 am

Thanks, Alice!! Your three sound great! I love to find a good sale. Or something new that's good to eat. In my family, we sometimes ask each other, "what you been eating good?" And we're always hoping to hear about something new we could try. :)

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Stella Scott link
2/10/2018 04:44:12 am

It’s funny cause that’s what I said to one of my clients many years ago.

~You feel better than you think you do, you are just so caught up in feeling and being miserable that you don’t notice.

That switched things around as she then managed to go deeper and solve her problems for real.

When you make yourself feel better you are more ready to take on your true challenges.

Reply
Jeanine Byers link
2/10/2018 11:54:06 am

That's so neat, Stella! I am more likely to say that you can be much happier than you think is possible. But I also help people identify how they will know they are happy. ;)

And your last sentence could be a tagline for the work I do with winter blues...

"When you make yourself feel better you are more ready to take on your true challenges."

Reply
Stella Scott link
2/12/2018 04:01:01 am

Well my friend, if you want to use it at one point go right ahead. The likeliness of me ever using it as tagline is probably zero. ☺️

Jeanine Byers link
2/15/2018 09:09:48 pm

Oh, thanks, Stella! I think I quoted you in a blog post, so I did use it. :)

Nadya link
2/10/2018 02:48:47 pm

Ooo, Jeanine, like you, I keep thinking of more!

First, I was grateful when I was readying this - I remembered I'd signed up for a Reiki Webinar, that was in progress!! (Oops!) It was io the Reiki principles, which include GRATITUDE! One suggested practice is to think of several things you're grateful for daily (often at bedtime or in the morning)

I have several family gratuities, two dates with my 13 year old granddaughter, who came to our Red Thread Circle Thursday, and then to see Glass Menagerie with me Friday evening! Out little theater is celebrating its 50th year, and this was the first play they staged back in 1968! So well done, but so sad!

And one more, my daughter's BD was the 7th, and we went out for breakfast, then she came to my studio for a massage!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful reminder! Xxx

Reply
Jeanine Byers link
2/10/2018 11:09:53 pm

Oh, how neat! I had forgotten that about Reiki, but it is a good way to catch yourself being happy. A Reiki webinar? Interesting! I am a reiki master, but I often get interested in those kinds of things to find out what's new. :)

I love hearing about your connections with your daughter and your granddaughter! And how neat about The Glass Menagerie.

You are most welcome!

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    Author, hygge lifestyle blogger & connoisseur of delight writing about how to create a hygge lifestyle, with hearthcraft, comfy capsule wardrobe tips and cozy home decorating ideas. More here.
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  • Home
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  • The Cozy Corner
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