An easy, powerful way to be happier

I read an interesting book a month or two ago, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. He dives into the concepts and research findings from the field of positive psychology. The data is fascinating as it strongly suggests that we can systematically engage in certain behaviors that increase our inner well being, as well as behaviors that tear it down. I think most of us would intuitively understand this to be true, but now we have research that not only confirms it, but gives guidance as to what some of those behaviors actually are!

So let me ask you a few questions. Would you like to be happier? Would you like to feel a deeper sense of inner well being? Would you like to experience less stress? And what if I told you that you could accomplish ALL those things in 5 minutes a day, and not even spending 5 consecutive minutes at one time? 2-3 minutes in the morning, 2-3 minutes in the evening before bed. Interested?  I was.

One of the things the research shows is that maintaining a gratitude journal and writing some very specific things in it every day can lead to profoundly positive internal shifts. In my life I’ve made various attempts at maintaining a gratitude journal, but they all petered out for one reason or another. And then I heard a podcast from one of the creators of The Five Minute Journal. It sounded intriguing so I checked it out. I was so impressed that I purchased it and I will tell you flat out, I think this thing is REALLY powerful.

I could take the time to go into why, but I’d rather let you just discover it for yourself.  Go to www.fiveminutejournal.com and check it out. This is a POWERFUL tool I recommend to everyone. If you decide to purchase it, use the coupon code “bulletproof” (I’ll explain more in a subsequent post where that comes from) to get a modest discount. It’s not an expensive item by any stretch. With the coupon code I think I paid about $26 including shipping.

We know very clearly that our inner emotional state has a profound impact on how our bodies feel and function. In fact if you ask Pete Egoscue for his definition of health, one answer I’ve heard him give of late is “Health is peace of mind”. This journal is a fantastic tool to help you cultivate such peace.  

And a request: if you get one, share comments below about what you’ve experienced as you began using it.