Your Top Priority This Year

In my opinion, there is one thing that is much more important than anything else: learning to be happy and fulfilled in your life.

Truly happy people tend to be richer, more giving, more productive, and even a lot healthier than everyone else. So how can you easily become much happier in this fast paced, crazy world we live in?

Fortunately there are many simple, powerful methods that can make a dramatic difference in your level of happiness. In fact, some methods that take only a minute a day, have been proven to have more effect on your level of happiness than if you suddenly doubled your income!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to try out some simple methods and see which ones work best for you. According to researchers, over 30 methods have been scientifically proven to increase a person’s level of happiness.

One of my personal favorites is the following. Once a week, I simply ask myself, “What could I schedule this week that would be fun to do, or create a special moment with someone I care about?” That’s it. Then, when you get your answer, immediately schedule this experience into your upcoming week.

Nowadays we’re all so busy that we tend to do only what we schedule, but most people only schedule their work–so they miss out on creating special moments for themselves. By scheduling time for what you really enjoy, you can make sure it happens. By actually doing the things that you most value each and every week, you’ll inevitably become happier, healthier, and more caring to those you love.

On one of my appearances on Oprah, I shared a similar method that Oprah especially loved. The “method” I shared was to simply do two brief acts of kindness per day for anyone you interact with. Studies show that small acts of kindness are incredibly effective in boosting your own mood. Kindness temporarily takes us out of ourselves and helps us connect with our own caring heart.

You can tune into the power of this method by simply asking, “What could I do today for someone that would be a kind and fun thing to do?” Recently, I was having a really stressful day, so I asked myself this question. I ended up writing a brief note of appreciation for my wife, and giving our dog a big bone. My mood immediately brightened, and the love I received from both of them later that night made me feel even better. In under three minutes I went from stressed out to blissed out, and I even made those I care about happier!

By trying out a variety of happiness boosters, you can discover what truly works best for you. Once you find methods you resonate with, your life will never be the same. Instead of just having more intellectual information, you’ll have a practical way to transform the actual moments of your daily life.

Then, no matter what life throws your way, you’ll be able to tap into the peace and happiness that are always living inside of you…!