I listen to a lot of podcasts as I’m going through my day, and one of my favorites is Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations. She has fascinating guests that are always educational and enlightening.

Recently, she had teacher and author Shawn Achor on to discuss happiness and gratitude and how we can get more of both in our own lives. Shawn was a teaching assistant for Tal Ben-Shahar’s popular “Happiness” course, a class at Harvard University where students clamor to enroll each semester. He’s also written a book about it called The Happiness Advantage.

Through his years of study and research, he has found that if we do five simple things each day, we can and will be happier and more grateful. Who doesn’t want that? I decided to give it a try and have been practicing this for the past six months as I have gone through a difficult time in my life where the idea of happiness has been challenged. But, I have found that when I follow his steps and really incorporate them into my life I am happier and notice more things I am grateful for. I have found that the simpler I keep it, the happier I am.

As part of a Spring Reset, why not try to begin your own Happiness Project? Here are the simple steps that can have profound impact.

1. Gratitude – What three things are you grateful for? (Change daily. Can be anything you like from a cup of coffee to the sky).

2. What positive experience have you had over the past twenty-four hours? Write it down remembering as many details as possible.

3. Thank someone for something – and mean it! This can be a text, email, phone call or better yet, in person.

4. At least ten minutes of exercise.

5. Meditation – start with two minutes and work your way up to more. (This can be to simply notice and follow your own breath for two minutes.)

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE!

HAPPINESS SPREADS!

HAPPINESS IS AN ADVANTAGE!