In case none of you have read any of my posts... I'm obsessed with happiness :D

 

 

I recall that the very first big "game changer" in my life which led me down this path was an exercise that one of my psych professors taught me. The exercise is simple, anyone can do it.

 

I want you to think of someone who has had a positive impact on your life, no matter how significant or insignificant it was. They can be dead or alive, real or imaginary, it doesn't really matter.

 

Take about 30 minutes out of your day to sit down, relax, and just think about someone or something that you are grateful for and have been influenced by. Write a letter to them, stating why and how they had an influence on your life. You don't have to actually send them this letter if you don't want to or don't feel comfortable; you can keep this letter to yourself if you wish. Simply thinking about this and writing down your thoughts is enough to complete the exercise. You could write a letter to your parents, or your best friend, or maybe a teacher or someone who had a profound impact on your life.

 

In my case, the first letter I wrote was to a close friend of mine who taught me how to come out of my shell (I'm a hardcore introvert at heart). He taught me how to be social, how to make friends, and how to make people laugh; and for that, I am eternally grateful for his friendship. Had I never met him, there's a strong chance that a lot of my other close friends today wouldn't actually be my close friends because I wouldn't know how to interact with them "properly."

 

 

You don't really have anything to lose by trying this out, especially if you decide to keep your letter to yourself. This might actually end up being the first time that you can make yourself cry out of sheer happiness and joy-- and you can also make someone else feel the same way if you choose to share your letter.

 

 

So yeah. Try it. None of you should feel obligated to share your letters in this thread or anything; they should definitely be kept private if you wish. I just want you to let me know how it feels to try this. :)

I think there's something to be said about the similarity this exercise has to flexing the ability to forgive

Yes definitely. I think forgiveness is a lot harder to achieve than gratitude though :P

So... How many of you actually tried this? >_>

Gratitude is an

Attitude of giving

Platitude to the

Multitude who....

 

 

I have no poetry ability to be grateful for, clearly

I chuckled at the irony of people being more willing to try taking cold showers than trying this simple exercise haha

I chuckled at the irony of people being more willing to try taking cold showers than trying this simple exercise haha

Never said I wouldn't do it :P Is this supposed to be a daily thing? Or a one off?

Cold showers help physically. And immediately.

 

I chuckled at the irony of people being more willing to try taking cold showers than trying this simple exercise haha

Never said I wouldn't do it :P Is this supposed to be a daily thing? Or a one off?

Naw not daily. I generally do it on "special occasions" though if you've never done it before I'd recommend trying it once immediately. It's definitely in the "top tier" of things that make me really really happy. The first time I did this made me happier than my first cold shower.

I chuckled at the irony of people being more willing to try taking cold showers than trying this simple exercise haha

That was when TIF was more populated, no?

 

 

As for this, I'll be frank I don't see how this would bring me a feeling of happiness. I already show my gratitude to those few who has helped me, I don't need to write it down saying thanks to them.

Try it, you'll be surprised. Like I said, many of my friends cry when they finally try it.

"Thank you notes are the key to the doors of opportunity"

 

I'm writing one soon to my academic advisor who pleaded my case to the dean so that I can graduate with Honors instead of the typical plebeian graduation diplomas :)  

I do with cards and a box of chocolates. I definitely get the impression people value the chocolates more than the friendly gratitude though.

 

Dat Maslow's heirachy.