There are many ways that complimenting someone can lead to happiness. In addition to the good feels you’ll get by making someone else happier, a genuine compliment helps build trust between people. It also is more likely to lead to someone giving you a compliment in return, which can make you feel special. That’s not to say that you should pay someone a compliment just to get one in return, but one good reason to compliment others is that you’ll be promoting a happiness chain that can help change attitudes and build a positive rapport among your coworkers and friends.
Hack 220 – Be Consistent
Treat everyone you meet the same way: don’t treat the president of your company better than her intern. And don’t treat your coworkers with kindness and respect and then come home and take your frustrations out on your significant other or family. Being consistent not only makes other people feel better about you— treating people equally makes you appear fair and open-minded—it will help you feel less critical and judgmental.
Hack 221 – Be There for the Little Moments
It’s important to be there for people you care about during the big moments of life: weddings, births, funerals, first days of school. But aside from that, being there for the little moments is what truly lets people know you care about them. Your friend had a bad day at work? Grab some wine to share and listen to his problems. Your niece is having a problem at school? Take her out for ice cream and help her come up with a solution. It’s the seemingly smaller events in life that can truly shape us, so be present for your loved ones in those moments. They won’t forget it.
Hack 222 – Stop Checking Social Media So Much
Social media is an amazing service that helps us connect with the world. The problem, though, is that social media can also disconnect you from actual interactions with people. You don’t have to quit email/Twitter/ Facebook/Instagram/Tumblr cold turkey—just check it a couple of times a day and then be done with it. If people truly need to get in touch with you, they can call you. (You know, that other function of your phone!)
Hack 223 – Shorten the Time You Feel Pissed Off
People will piss you off—it’s part of life, and feeling frustrated is a natural reaction that you often can’t control. But what you can control is how long you let that feeling control you. Don’t allow yourself to become stuck in feelings of anger or resentment! That will only take you down a negative path, one that will let the anger in you grow. Instead, feel pissed off, acknowledge the wrong that was done to you, and then start to let it go. Holding anger inside will just poison your happiness.
Hack 224 – Stop Saying “I’m Fine”
“I’m fine.” “Things are fine.” “We’re doing fine.” “Fine” is one of the most overused and meaningless words people say today. You should never answer “fine” when someone asks you how you are doing. Take a few moments to actually think about how you are feeling and then give an appropriate answer: “I’m bored.” “I’m nervous.” “I’m great.” Take the time to think about your feelings instead of giving a throwaway response. Who knows? You might even inspire the person who’s asking to think more about their feelings as well!
Hack 225 – Don’t Interrupt
Interrupting someone isn’t just rude—it sends the message that you don’t care about the other person. When you interrupt what someone is saying, what you’re doing is telling that person, “I don’t care enough about you to listen to what you are saying so that I can understand you—I am just listening until I can decide what I want to say next.” Genuinely listen to what the other person is saying. Focus on what the other person is telling you and try to actually understand their point rather than just thinking about your counterpoint. Ask questions about what the other person is saying. Your interlocutor will feel appreciated and valued, and in turn, you’ll feel happier that you took the time to listen.
Hack 226 – Get Rid of Some of Your Stuff
You’ve no doubt heard that things won’t bring you happiness . . . yet we all still buy more and more stuff. Buying things doesn’t make us happy for many reasons: possessions are only temporary, possessions require maintenance, possessions make us worry about damage and theft, and no matter how much you have, some- one else will always have more. So instead of looking to fill your happiness void with buying more things, try having fewer things. Redirect your buying desires to other pursuits that are more lasting.
Hack 227 – Don’t Plot Revenge
When someone wrongs you, your first reaction may be to devise a plan to inflict similar pain on that person. You may even feel like doing so will make you feel better about your own pain. In reality, though, seeking revenge does not cancel out your pain—all it does is continue the cycle of pain. There is a famous saying: “Before seeking revenge, first dig two graves.” That makes sense, because when you seek revenge, you are hurting yourself in the process. Rise above the situation and move forward. You don’t want to let pain suck you into a negative place.
Hack 228 – Talk to a Kid
That old saying about wisdom coming from the mouths of babes is more true than you might think. Try to regularly talk to someone under the age of seven. What you will discover is a fierce zest for life, a refreshing outlook, and a no-nonsense attitude about what it takes to be happy. Want to learn what it’s like to really enjoy a day? Talk to a kid and understand the simple joys of life.