It's the little things....

While watching The Today Show I heard Matt & Hoda say that the "secret to happiness" is in "the little things".  They referenced a survey where people talked about the things that make them happy like a sunny day or a smile from a friend.  

So simple, yet so many people live life wondering what the secret is or thinking they can only be happy if they win the lottery or go on an extravagant trip like pictured here.  That isn't so.  

We all experience little things that bring us happiness and joy each day but too often we are too busy, stressed or focused on what went wrong to see what went right!  

When you feel like things are not going your way or you can't seem to feel as happy as you would like to be I challenge you to make a list of the little things that bring joy or contentment in your life.  Can you list 10, 20, 50, 100?  How many can you find?  

I bet you can find more than you think. 

Try it, you have nothing to lose and only happiness to gain!

I would love to hear from you on what you come up with.  Feel free to post here of go to Facebook page.  

 :-) Cara Maksimow, LCSW, CPC

Relationships & Happiness

When I speak with groups and ask the question "what makes you happy" the first answer I almost always get relates to other people.   

Relationships with other people are critical to our sense of well-being and happiness.  

In Positive Psychology Dr. Seligman (known as the father of positive psychology) describes the 5 keys to make a life worth living.  Positive Relationships are at the center of his theory of well-being.  

Think about the happiest time in your life.  Who was with you?  

In this busy day to day world we have become so focused on all that we have to do that we are more disconnected than ever from important relationships in our lives.  When was the last time you chatted with someone you care about in person, not via text, email or Facebook with no agenda other than just to say hello?  How often do we pick up the phone to just catch up?  I bet not often enough.

If you want to increase your happiness and well-being focus on increasing your positive relationships with others.  Here's a way to start:

• Make a list of people you would like to keep in better touch with. 
• Call one person from that list a week, maybe even one each day. 
• Schedule time to get together or just chat on the phone.  

Connecting to other people is a critical part of our happiness and well-being.  Make it a priority and see the difference it makes for you!

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