I love human behavior.

I just love it.

I love understanding why we do the things we do; I love learning about social ques and how to be happier. I could go on and on… It’s my thing. I’m only just discovering how much I love it, and I plan to dig deeper into this whole subject.

It makes me excited to think about it.

My poor family. Ha! I’ve been talking their ears off every time I see them with all I’m learning; it’s fascinating!! They’ve been really good about listening, they even seem interested.

Here’s a nugget…

Did you know, research has proven, that we are the happiest when we are pursuing a goal?

Interestingly, we are happier in the PURSIUT of the goal than when we actually reach it. Isn’t that crazy? And yet, when I look back over my life I see the truth in it. It’s awesome to reach a goal, but the happiness is short lived, the anticipation of reaching the goal runs deep and especially if it’s a meaningful goal. So there’s a good reason to always keep a goal in front of us, but also understand attaining it isn’t the real treasure, it’s the journey to get there that affects us the most.

Did you know, again, research has proven, that we can make ourselves happier if given the right tools?

We have a choice in this.

One small thing to help with happiness is to remember we can’t crawl out of an unhappy place overnight, it takes time. Focus on being 1% happier today than you were yesterday. What does that look like in real life? Find something you enjoy or something you know is good for you and do it, no matter how small.

For me, I try to get outside as soon as possible every morning because the cool dew on the grass while the sun is coming up feels so deeply nourishing to my soul. Does this happen every morning? I wish. But it does happen often, it’s a small way I ground myself and remind myself who my creator is…it’s deeply meaningful.

And, it contributes to my happiness.

Today at lunch my husband, son and I put down our phones for forty five minutes and connected with each other. It felt so good not to be distracted and the conversation was great.

It contributed to my happiness.

Then, after lunch, we got ice cream.

Ice cream contributes to my happiness as well.

What can you do, just one small thing, to help you be happier?

It starts small, but, as it happens, one small INTENTIONAL gesture leads to another and another and soon you’re on your very own happiness journey.

Why not give it a try?

You’ve only got happiness to gain.