14,000 Things To Be Happy About
How "14,000 Things to be Happy About" Can Affect Every Area of Your Life
When you're going through a bad time, or even just feeling "blah", getting happy does more than make you feel better. It can literally change the course of your life.
The way we're feeling affects the decisions we make, the chances we take, the opportunities we seize or miss, and of course, our behavior - the way we relate to others and the way we respond to stimuli in our lives.
Someone who is feeling happy will benefit from more than just feeling good, they will generally make different decisions to those they'd make if they were feeling down, upset... or even just bland.
A person who is feeling happy will be more attractive to others, communicate better, have more success in dealing with others, and their choices and risk-taking will be better balanced. They will make choices that are more likely to benefit them.
A happy person will have a tendency to see more opportunities, and be prepared to make the most of them.
So, being reminded of things to be happy about is more than just a "cheer up" attempt - it's a powerful tool that can change your life by changing your attitude and in turn, your choices and opportunities.
The book "14,000 Things To Be Happy About" is therefore more than just a "pick-me-up" or distraction... it is a powerful tool that can affect real life results.
My Top "Thing to Be Happy About"
My favorite thing to be happy about is the sight of birds flying - especially a flock of birds... and especially a flock of Starlings. And the thing about "things to be happy about" is that you can create a sort of custom mood trigger. By appreciating something and deliberately choosing to be happy about it, your brain connects the feeling of happiness with the experience of whatever it is. What happens eventually is that, whatever your mood, the experience of that thing will automatically cause the release of endorphins and Serotonin.
Because of the appreciation and wonder I have when I see birds flying, I now have an association between happiness and the sight of birds flying... and no matter what my mood is, seeing birds flying above lifts that mood, and my subconscious almost sees it as a good sign, a reassurance everything is alright
Small, Everyday Things to be Happy About
The Power in Enjoying the Little Things
Photo by Michaela Kobyakov
There is great power in enjoying the little things. Making a point of savoring your morning cup of coffee, or the sensation of a warm shower, or the smell of toast, boosts your mood - and even those tiny boosts add up to a big difference.
Developing an awareness of the pleasure in the small things in your life will lead to more of what you want - when you start appreciating and enjoying those little things, your mood affects your attitude, which in turn affects the things you do, the choices you make, the energy you have, the way you approach the rest of your day... which in turn changes the results you get.
The snowball effect continues to color your interactions with others, your communication, and your ability to get things done.
Here are a few examples of daily little things to be happy about (in no particular order ;) )
Remember: Getting happy about the little things... leads to the big things to be happy about - happiness leads to happiness.....
- sunshine
- soft socks
- toast
- coffee
- hot shower
- your car
- a seat on the train or bus
- a good book
- a smile from a stranger
- a good song on the radio, or on your iPod
- a funny comment or status on Facebook
- a tasty lunch
- your pet
- your mobile phone
- your shoes
- getting home
- a cup of tea
- access to the internet
- your bed
How "Things to Be Happy About" Affects Your Health
When you're feeling happy, you have more energy, more motivation, more inspiration... which means you're more likely to be physically active. Whether it's going to the gym, running, playing ball, dancing or getting a DIY project done - feeling happy definitely increases the chances you'll go ahead with it.
Feeling happy also leads to healthier eating - most people are likely to eat healthier and refrain from over-eating when they're happy.
On top of this, feeling happy also boosts your immune system. The chemicals produced by the brain increase the body's natural defences.
So, becoming aware of things to be happy about (no matter how you're currently feeling) can actually have a massive impact on your physical well-being.
Things to Be Happy About That You May Not Have Thought Of....
* The convenience of a teabag.
How Fabulous is it that making a cup of tea is so quick and easy? Of course, one can use loose tea and a teapot when one wants to, but how brilliant is it that we have the option of a quick and easy cup of tea when we want it, or need it!
* Heating
* Hot Water
* Remote Controls
* Tar roads
* Vacuum cleaners
* Drinking water when you're thirsty
* Bubble baths
* Spreadable butter
* Soft pillows
* Seeing children playing
...... and of course, once you get started, you'll have many more :)
14,000 Things To Be Happy About
14,000 Things To Be Happy About - The Book
Don't Worry, Be Happy - With Robin Williams
Sometimes being silly is the only way you can get from here to happy... and why not! ;)
Other Tools for "Getting Happy"
Laughter - One of the Most Powerful Ways to Get Happy Quickly

Involuntary out-loud hysterical laughter is one of the best things in the world. It's good for the soul, it's good for the body, and of course it's good for the mood. This book contains real-life funny stories that are designed to induce just such laughter.
Live Like Someone Left the Gate Open Poster
A wonderful reminder, this poster features a gorgeous dog, bounding through a field, free, and with pure joy - "Live Like Someone Left the Gate Open" - a great philosophy for life. Living with this attitude can turn a person's life around. And having a poster like this where you see it every day, is an excellent way to keep yourself reminded and on track.
Remember, everything you do and say, the choices and decisions you make, the action you're prepared to take, your health, your relationships, even your financial state - all of this is affected by how you feel. All of this will be different when you're feeling happy. More energy, better judgement, more motivation and inspiration, better relations and communication, healthier eating, more ideas, more action, more achievement, more enthusiasm - this is just a fraction of what being in a happy state can result in. Do whatever it takes to get happy - it's a priority because it affects everything else! :)
Share Your Favorite Thing To Be Happy About :)
I think reading your lens was the best thing I've done today. :)
This made me happy reading it :)
A truly inspiring lens! I couldn't get enough of the photos and video. Fantastic lens! Sundae ;-)
Caught up in great art in a museum.
Singing birds if you just woke up... Great topic!
I felt happier after reading this list! I need to keep reminding myself that happiness sometimes comes in the small stuff :)
squidliked & shared abroad!
I'm happy to have wonderful friends and family. I'm happy that there's books and coffee. The list can go on and on.
All great reminders of things to be happy about. Thanks :)
Another wonderful lens you have written!
I have bipolar and fibromyalgia which has taught me to micromanage happiness. Happiness can be found in every source of pain - for it's opposite reaction is to heal. And healing is a wonderful thing, even if it's just cool bed sheets against hot feet at the end of a tiring day. Thanks for pointing out the obvious, so to speak, there's always something to find happiness in.
Books. A good book always makes me happy. And my friends. To be able to sit down and have a good laugh with my best friend always brightens my day. Also, my parents. And....wait, are we only limited to one thing as being our favorite? :) Great, super lens.
Li Li
Really nice - I bookmarked this for later use, sent it along to stumbleupon friends.
Thanks for what appears to be 13,999 additional ways to drive away negativity! Great lens.
I love 9gag on facebook.They always make my day :)
So cool! Totally happy to have found it!
Lifeboost , Once again a nice lens from you. You made me happy few days ago by rewrite my George Harrison Lens' Intro and That lens was awarded LOTD and won Purple star after your reviewing .....Thanks
So fortunate that I came across this article. It definitely cheered me and made me realize that there are so many things to feel happy about!! Life is Good :)
I'm from the UK, where it rains a lot and it's one of the top things people like to grumble about. Not me. I've always loved rain and find it both soothing and invigorating. Rain makes me feel alive.
The house I grew up in had four tall lime trees at the bottom of the garden and in summer, their big leaves provided perfect shelter. When it rained I would often walk down and sit under them, just watching and listening to the rain falling.
Even now, living as I do in southern California, where it hardly rains at all, on the rare occasions it does I'll often make a quick cup of tea and go and sit outside. People think I'm quite odd. They're probably right, but who cares?
I'm sure if we put our mind to it we could add to the 14,000, but we often forget about the one or two things. There was a time when I had done a bit of self-pity over my shower. It wasn't but a few days later I learned of a man who had to bathe in the lake in the winter, because he had no running water in his home. I learned to be content in whatever the condition. We all need reminders, thanks.
Excellent lens! Thank you for reminding us on importance of small things in life.
Soft socks deffinately make me happy.
Excellent lens! Thank you for reminding us on importance of small things in life.
Soft socks deffinately make me happy.
Just the little things in life and pleasant surprises are things to be happy about, a great lens.
I really enjoyed visiting your lens. There are so many small, everyday small things to be happy about.
Y'know, this lens makes me happy! :)
excellent subject and lens! Had me smiling and love the Don't Worry song!
Very well thought out lens.
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