We’ve all heard it, “a smile is contagious.” It’s true, a smile is contagious! A smile might be one of the few things you actually want to catch. And the marvelous thing about making someone else smile or feel good, is that it makes you feel good and smile as well. The thing is that you never truly know what someone else is going through, and you just might be the sole bright spot of another person’s day. Try brightening others' days with these simple and easy tricks to spread happiness. Pretty much everyone deserves to be happy, so we’re here to walk you through some ways that you can spread happiness. Happiness makes people happier, and what’s not to love about being happy?
Here are a few tips:
Smile
Smiles are contagious, and studies have shown that smiling actually has an impact on your overall happiness. Just giving a stranger or a friend a smile could make their day or change the way that they are feeling about the day. If someone is commuting to work thinking “this day sucks,” and they see you smile at them, their mood could turn around. Instead of having a bad day, they might have a positive day.
Nice Gestures
What’s better than someone doing something nice for you? Not much. Treat others the way you want to be treated and make a concerted effort to do nice gestures for people. That includes stuff like holding the door open, or even things as small as wishing someone a good morning. Simple gestures mean a lot more than people realize and they can be really beneficial.
Make Sure People Know
Don’t be afraid to share the love. You love your friends, you love your family, you love the guy at the coffee store that wishes you a good morning every day when you’re in there. Make sure the people that you care about know that you care about them and that they are loved. People can get caught up in their own lives and stresses, and sometimes people forget about how important they are to others. If you have people in your life who you really care about, make sure they know it.
Hugs
Hugs are almost as good as therapy. Hugging someone is a great way to show them that they matter and that they’re loved. It not only brings both people closer, but it also makes both parties feel comfortable. There is happiness found in comfort and love and making others feel that is a great way to share the love.
Invite People to Events
It’s always great to be included in things, so make an effort to spend time with those that you love or even complete strangers who you’ve just met. Even if it’s something small like getting a coffee, get outside and socialize! Ask your friends or family if they would like to join you. It might be their only excuse to leave the house and have human interaction that day. Science has found that human interaction lowers anxiety and helps relieve depression.
Cook With Friends
Food is good for the soul, so cook with friends, because it’s good for you. Maybe you’re a fantastic cook and your meals need to be shared, or maybe you are an awful cook and you and a friend could have a laugh over what happens in the kitchen. Either way, sharing a meal with a friend is a great way to make them happy. Maybe you could find a fun recipe or make their favorite, either way, enjoy it.
Listen to People
In today’s fast-paced world it’s common for people to not feel heard. When you’re hanging out with a friend or you’re talking to someone try putting away your phone and really listening and hearing them. Ask them questions about what they just said. It’s easy to act like you’re listening, and people will pick up on that. If someone is venting and they feel heard it will help to relieve their anxiety and make them feel better. You wouldn’t want to be ignored, so don’t be inattentive with others.
Be You
You’re pretty great. Always be you, don’t try to be someone else. People will love you for who you are. When you’re trying to be someone else, you can make things feel forced and people will feel uncomfortable. Living in your own skin helps people relax and connect with you.