NationStates

So there's a load of evidence that says that repeatedly reflecting on positive achievements and events causes an increase in happiness.

Sounds like new agey good vibes rubbish, I know, but there's a solid evidence base to it.

Other evidence suggests that sharing positive things socially has positive happiness boosts, both to the sharer and the people hearing about happiness things.

Anyway, a little happiness boost is always appreciated, so let's give this a go.

Here's the thread rules:

1) Aim to post three positive things that have happened to you in the last 24 hours. Do this once every 24 hours for at least a week.
2) Keep the negativity off the thread. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it. If you just want to be critical or snarky, then keep it to yourself or post it somewhere else.
3) If you want to look up the evidence for this approach, then go google it. Don't turn this thread into a discussion of whether the technique works, just use this thread to carry out the exercise. If you're really determined to be critical of the process, start another thread.

Anyway, gonna give this a go. I'll start off next post.


(*cos someone asked, CBT stands for cognitive behavioural therapy)

1) I made my son laugh with a joke I made up.
2) I went for a long walk with my wife yesterday evening, and it felt nice.
3) Did an 8 week check for a little baby girl yesterday afternoon, and she had a lovely smile.

Seems like a good thing, so I'll try.

1. I finally managed to get off my butt and read the pile of books I've bought but never touched.
2. I helped my family out on several errands, which makes me feel good.
3. Went out to a movie with several close friends the other day. I haven't seen some of them for some time, and I feel really happy about meeting them again.

1. Standing out on a balcony today we noticed this large plastic bag swirling up between buildings and it floated up and around in a circle before almost magically floating direct to me.. I caught it and placed in a bin and it all seemed so smooth everyone was all 'omg we should have video'd that' - nothing special just seemed the world was obeying my commands
2. Had a lovely egg fried rice for lunch, I go often enough that they know what I want, I just turn up, sit down and over it comes and everyone's happy.
3. April Fool's on NSG is coming shortly.. what will it be?

Bombadil wrote:1. Standing out on a balcony today we noticed this large plastic bag swirling up between buildings and it floated up and around in a circle before almost magically floating direct to me.. I caught it and placed in a bin and it all seemed so smooth everyone was all 'omg we should have video'd that' - nothing special just seemed the world was obeying my commands

That is pretty damn cool.

Woo, I'm glad that you did this thing! I feel like this is absolutely what we would need amongst these sea of negative news now and then.

Let's get started!

1) (NS Card-game related): If you are buying your own card and you get yanked, don't take it negatively. Instead, be happy that your card's Market Value increased.

2) Smile at the bus captains, clerks, janitors, etc on your way to work or school. Not a creepy Joker smile, but when you smile a little at them, you will realise that they will smile back at you and they feel a little better for their day.

3) If you see something lost along the way, best thing to do is always to return it to its rightful owner, or report it. I once have this guy who dropped his business card holder, along with some key inside. Looks pretty important, right? So I alighted at the next convenient stop and returned it to the ticket counter of the train station, while I text-messaged the guy (his business card made that bit easier) that I returned it there and so on. He was extremely grateful about it and to this day would send me a positive vibe now and then.

Bombadil wrote:3. April Fool's on NSG is coming shortly.. what will it be?

I want the warn texts to be in Comic Sans MS. And maybe with a weird kid-like language along the way along with weird emojis or faces that won't fit!

"Warned for Flaming" -> "Warned for being a doo-doo-head. O_O"

Nice life tips!

The exercise, however, is to reflect on three good things that have happened to you personally in the last 24 hours.

I've clarified the OP, as I don't think I made that clear.

Alright.

1. I got an absolute tonne of stuff done yesterday so I can actually take it a bit easier today.

2. Annual leave coming up! Booked it yesterday.

3. It's actually quite nice and sunny at the moment. Trees are starting to grow new leaves and the air has that real "spring" feel to it.

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:Nice life tips!

The exercise, however, is to reflect on three good things that have happened to you personally in the last 24 hours.

Ahhh... whoops, sorry! Then I will post again tomorrow.

As of now? Hmm...

1) A hard shell for my laptop came early from Amazon. It was slated to arrive at my address on first week of April, but it arrived yesterday in excellent condition. Fits my laptop like a glove too, and it is working great and dandy to protect my device.

2) I had a hearty meal with cooked (not grilled or fried; cooked with gravy, Burmese style!) salmon and vegetables (carrots and broccoli in oyster sauce) yesterday night. I ate like 2.5 servings and I got bloated a little. But overall, my stomach is satisfied.

3) Had a good 5-hour sleep this morning. 5 hour seems a little lacking, but this week, I have been lacking sleep overall, so this Friday morning was the best sleep I have gotten for these weekdays!

1) Me and my buddies had the best rump steak of our lives.

2)Partying last night was fun.

3)Today was very chill.

1) I finished work 1 hour before deadline yeet.
2) I had japanese for lunch yum
3) My friend in hospital moved from ICU to High Dependacy, a big step (still critical condition but he's getting better)

I banged a blonde
I banged a red head
I banged a brunette



Made me happy lol

Last 24 hours

1..The idiot who when he shows up before I do and takes my bus seat, didn't
2. For once boy #2 asked how to handle an issue, I advised him, he did what I suggested, was pleasantly surprised by the positive result, and shared it's working out.
3. The Yankees won.

Mystic Warriors wrote:I banged a blonde
I banged a red head
I banged a brunette



Made me happy lol

In the last 24 hours?!?! Two women is the most I've ever managed within that time period, and that was in my younger and wilder days. Also, same hair colour, as they were sisters, haha.

Wait, was this a case of one woman with two bottles of hair dye and a lot of patience?

Regardless, look forward to seeing what your next 6 days bring.

Aww, what a fun and wholesome game! Let's see...

1. I slept in and woke up at 1

2. I went back to sleep at 3 and slept till 7

3. I had happy dreams when I was sleeping

I slept a lot today...

Candlewhisper Archive wrote:

Mystic Warriors wrote:I banged a blonde
I banged a red head
I banged a brunette



Made me happy lol

In the last 24 hours?!?! Two women is the most I've ever managed within that time period, and that was in my younger and wilder days. Also, same hair colour, as they were sisters, haha.

Wait, was this a case of one woman with two bottles of hair dye and a lot of patience?

Regardless, look forward to seeing what your next 6 days bring.

LMAO. You got me.

Last twenty four hours:

1. I made a pun in English
2. I made a pun in Dutch
3. I made a pun in German. And got complimented for it. The natives are happy with my quick understanding of the language.

I went to work for my second time and things went very well. (as they did yesterday, though even moreso)
My mom and I delivered our first book sold on ebay to the post office.
a cat snuggled me all last night.

Edited the third thing cause that wasn't exactly a plus so much as a prep for a future plus.

I ate two KFC Double Down.
I resumed work on fictional protolanguages, the details of which shall be displayed on my factbook, hopefully by 2023.
I walked 5 km without my leg acting up.

Ethel mermania wrote:Last 24 hours

1..The idiot who when he shows up before I do and takes my bus seat, didn't
2. For once boy #2 asked how to handle an issue, I advised him, he did what I suggested, was pleasantly surprised by the positive result, and shared it's working out.
3. The Yankees won.

and ALL the other teams in the AL East LOST!
Does this augur well for the season?

Fab idea, well done.

1. I'm coming back home today from uni up in Scotland, so whilst it's a wee bit sad to leave friends there behind it'll be nice to meet up with old friends and have mum fussing over me again ha ha
2. Had a very nice parting meal with said friends last night and some boozy drinks to follow
3. Finished all my assignments for the semester!

I agree that this is a good idea,

1. I made us a great pot roast.
2. I paid some bills; it makes me feel surprisingly good to be able to do so,
3. The smaller streets in my neighborhood are full of kids playing basketball, using the street for their court. March madness is in the air! They are nice kids; I wait for them to finish the play and they let me go by with no problem

1. Had some cider.
2. Cuddled with kitty. <3
3. Watched a couple of episodes of Sunset Beach. God made glorious old soap operas so that Fey could enjoy them when she's a bit tipsy. Haha.

Pope Joan wrote:

Ethel mermania wrote:Last 24 hours

1..The idiot who when he shows up before I do and takes my bus seat, didn't
2. For once boy #2 asked how to handle an issue, I advised him, he did what I suggested, was pleasantly surprised by the positive result, and shared it's working out.
3. The Yankees won.

and ALL the other teams in the AL East LOST!
Does this augur well for the season?

I am always so hopeful on opening day.

Day 2

1. I slept 10 hours last night.
2. Mrs mermania and I cooked a tasty breakfast together.
3. It is a beautiful day outside, and a walk in the park is part of today's schedule.