Today’s Miracle Moment Is About The Happiness Benefit…
Many of us have been taught to believe that success makes us happy. But what if I told you it’s actually the other way around? That being happy can lead you to unprecedented success and open up a world of possibilities and miracles?
In my book Happy for No Reason, I explore this paradigm-shifting idea that you don’t need a reason to be happy — happiness is a state you can choose, regardless of your circumstances. And choosing happiness doesn’t just feel good, it actually sets you up to receive more of life’s beautiful gifts.
Here’s an example of how this works. Imagine you’re having a really good day: you wake up feeling rested, the sun is shining, and everything seems to go your way. On days like this, don’t you find it easier to smile at strangers, lend a helping hand, or come up with creative solutions at work?
This isn’t just a coincidence. When we’re happy, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that not only make us feel good but also enhance our ability to organize new information, keep that information in the brain longer, and retrieve it faster later on. This means we are literally smarter when we are happier.
Scientific studies support this. Researchers at the University of California found that happiness leads to greater creativity, improved immune function, and more effective problem-solving skills.
Another study from Harvard University showed that doctors in a positive mood before making a diagnosis showed almost three times more intelligence and creativity than doctors in a neutral state, which led them to make accurate diagnoses 19% faster. Pretty cool, right?
Let me share a story from my book that perfectly illustrates the Happiness Benefit.
This is about Karen, a woman who always seemed to struggle with negativity and skepticism. She found herself laid off from her job, going through a divorce, and feeling utterly defeated.
I think most of us can relate to Karen’s circumstances at some point in our lives. Walking in those shoes, it’s easy to justify looking at the world in a negative way and feel sorry for yourself. I mean, what’s to feel happy about? But when Karen decided to shift her focus from despair to gratitude and optimism, amazing things began to happen.
Every day, despite her circumstances, Karen wrote down things she was grateful for. She began visualizing her life filled with joy and abundance. Slowly, she started to feel better, and as her happiness increased, so did the positive opportunities around her. Within a few months, Karen received a job offer in a field she had always wanted to work in, she met a supportive partner, and most importantly, she regained her zest for life.
Karen’s story isn’t unique because of the dramatic turnaround alone; it’s powerful because it demonstrates that our internal state can attract external success. By fostering a positive emotional state, Karen opened herself up to more miracles in her life, and the same can happen for you.
How can you experience this Happiness Benefit? Let’s walk through a simple step-by-step process to bring more joy into your life:
Step 1: Practice Gratitude
Start by keeping a gratitude journal. Every night before you go to bed or first thing in the morning when you wake up, write down three things that you’re grateful for. This can be anything! Small things like clean air to breathe or big things like your most important relationships and everything in between. This helps to shift your focus from what’s missing in your life to what’s abundant.
Step 2: Cultivate Optimism
Spend a few minutes each day visualizing your life as you wish it to be. Imagine all your dreams coming true and allow yourself to feel the joy as if they already have. This visualization not only boosts your current mood but also aligns your energy with the outcomes you desire. Even if it’s hard to do at first, keep going! This gets easier with practice. The more you do it, the more fun it becomes.
Step 3: Random Acts of Kindness
Once a week, commit to performing a random act of kindness. It could be as simple as paying for a stranger’s coffee, sending a thank-you note to a colleague or friend, or simply making eye contact and being fully present with someone. These acts of kindness increase not only your happiness but also that of others, creating a positive ripple effect. Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one a week! I think you’ll find that these random acts of kindness become an ongoing habit because they make you feel so good.
By integrating even one or all of these steps into your daily life, you’ll begin to experience the Happiness Benefit. Remember, happiness is not just about feeling good, it’s a catalyst for success, creativity, and deeper connections. It’s your secret weapon for leading a fulfilling and prosperous life and stepping into the Miracle Zone.
I want to end this Miracle Moment with a wonderful quote from Helen Keller who said “Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within.”
Here’s to activating the Happiness Benefit in your life!
From my happy heart to yours, I wish you an abundance of joy and miracles.
Want More Easy & Fun Happiness Practices?
P.S. True story: I began studying happiness because I had been unhappy nearly all my life. I felt like I was born depressed and I wanted to figure out why other people were happy and I just wasn’t. This desire took me on a deeply rewarding journey and I knew I had to share what I learned with as many people as possible. And boy does this message resonate, especially now!
If you want a deeper understanding of happiness, my fun and easy to follow program “30 Days to a Happier Life” is on sale for the next 72 hours. Find out more and save 50% here.
I’d love to hear from you! How has the presence of happiness affected your relationships or your money or your health? What would you like to welcome into your life as a result of simply being happy?
Your book and your YOM groups have made such a difference in my life . Thank you for all you do .
Thank you so much for these kind words, Barbara! So glad to have you as part of our YOM community. More miracles to you!
Trusting the universe is here for me and my experiences here to perfect me is one of the greatest truths. This has changed my paradigm for only good things to occur in my life. I feel and see the Universe is here to support me. I am So grateful for Marci and the YOM family. Much love to you all.
That’s beautiful, Kathleen! Thank you for sharing your learnings with us. So happy to have you as a part of our YOM community.
Yes, once you start trusting that the Universe is there for your greater good and is much wiser, you’ll experience miraculous shifts.
Thank you, Marci for that sweet message on the Happiness Benefit.
I loved your comments on having a gratitude journal
Do you know I’m working on volume 2 of my gratitude journal? I can’t believe it about myself. Writing in a gratitude journal is a habit I am maintaining thanks to HFNR where I learned about it several years ago. That’s a paradigm shift. Thank you so much!!
Yay! That’s wonderful news, Barbara. How has the practice of keeping a gratitude journal helped in your miraculous journey?
I have been practicing gratitude for several years now. My brother John Mance is a personal development coach and he suggested I start this practice. I have been much happier
I have started part-time work and have several interviews for full time work. I enjoy walking or running in the mornings and have a more positive outlook on life.
I would like a full-time position and to find a soul mate. I really liked your video and will add visualizations and random acts of kindness into my day and week.
Hi, Frances! It’s great to know that you already have habits that will help you live in the Miracle Zone. I can’t wait to see how adding visualizations and random acts of kindness helped you bring more joy into your life.
I am with a man who teases me and makes me laugh. He has his own life to live so we are not living together. Every time I am with him I feel most grateful that he is in my life. I tell him all the time how much I love being with him. I tell him how much I like his company. I feel us becoming more and more close in our relationship.
That’s amazing, Shirley! More miracles to both of you.
Happiness to me is a reflection of the joy I must first feel within. Every morning I am grateful to be above the ground and breathing. The three steps of practice you shared are what makes practice perfect. Being-Feeling & doing. I send to Marci, YOMie founders my sincere gratitude.
I love the concept of “Being-Feeling & Doing” that you shared with us, Nina! It’s a brilliant takeaway from this Miracle Moment of The Happiness Benefit. More miracles to you!
Grazie, Marci! Consigli preziosi di tenere ben presenti! Pratico la gratitudine più volte durante il giorno, e già questo cambia l’umore, ma a volte è difficile sottrarsi alle circostanze esterne. Sono fermamente convinta che ogni cosa parte dall’interno.
Thanks a lot Blessed Marcy for this simple, powerful 3steps daily path😀
You’re welcome, Carla! Hope it helps you live more in the Miracle Zone.
I now find myself living in a place of contentment and happiness much of the time. I have not been seriously depressed for almost 30 years. My experience this year of being in YOM has certainly contributed to my positive attitude! However, I was one of those people who was also seriously depressed from day one. My depression came from lots of trauma, but it also had nine different biochemical/nutritional causes to it.
It turns out that I had food allergies, neurotransmitter deficiencies, which I turned around using amino acid therapy and fatty acid deficiency. When I started taking fish oil every day, it felt like like the sun came out. I then discovered that because of my Scandinavian heritage my deep dark depression from day one had a genetic component that was easily addressed using a fatty acid GLA found in Borage or Evening Primrose oil. I find that I have to take it every single day but when I do, I am much more able to stay happy.
Marci, like you in discovering some of the secrets to happiness and wanting to share it with the whole world, I too want to share with the whole world what I have discovered about nutrition and emotional well-being :-). It’s been life transforming!
Thank you so much for sharing your transformational journey with us, Christina! It’s amazing to see you redirect your life to live more in the miracle zone each time. I hope you find a way to share your this journey with others. Thank you for being part of the YOM community!