Week 24

*For explanation of The Happiness Experiment" go HERE .*


Last week's secrets:
Enjoy what you have.
Think in concrete terms.


Secret #47
Be socially supportive.


" Take the time to help, comfort, or just be with those you care about when they are in need. You will feel good about your efforts, and it will bring you en even closer relationship."


Sometimes the best gift you can give to someone is the gift of your time. When you sacrifice your time in order to spend it with someone you care about, they see that and realize how much you love them. Supporting them through their hard times can be encouraging for them and uplifting for you.


"The need for support or the number of problems individuals face is a less strong predictor of their happiness than the amount of support available to them"


Secret #48
Don't blame yourself.


"When things go poorly, we sometimes start a list of ways we failed, ways we caused the problem. This kind of thinking not only can upset us, it also can keep us from being able to function. The truth is that any situation is the result of some things that are in your control and some things that are out of your control. Don't delude yourself into thinking a bad situation is completely of your making. Remember, it makes more sense to deal with outcomes than with fault."


Blaming yourself for every bad thing that happens does not change the fact that the bad thing happened. If we realized how little control we have over things we wouldn't blame ourselves so much. And think about all the time we waste blaming ourselves and thinking about the problems. Time that could be spent on thinking of ways to solve the problem or other positive things.


"Happiness does not depend on how many bad things happen to an individual. What is more important is whether an individual tends to make negative conclusions about him- or herself when negative events occur. Individuals who think of themselves as the cause of negative events are 43 percent less likely to be satisfied than individuals who do not."


Review:
Be socially supportive.
Don't blame yourself.