Don’t Be Stingy! - Give Some Happiness To Increase Your Happiness

Make Time For Happiness - Series: Part 3

In part 1 & 2 I talked about adding happiness to your to-do list and how to decrease interruptions, both of these techniques will increase your happiness, however to really see an increase you need to give the happiness you want to receive.

Don’t be STINGY!

Good things don’t come easy at first. As you practice giving your happiness you’ll start see happiness everywhere you go. Don’t wait another minute, here is how you can start investing in happiness today.

Random Acts Of Happiness Offline

A few year ago when I was traveling the United States for a job where I spent many nights in new cities. One night I decided that sitting in another hotel room alone was a horrible way to meet new people and entertain myself. I decided to head down to the convenience store on the corner, get me a drink, a pack of cigarettes (yes I know it is a nasty habit), and do something I had never really done before. I was determined to strike up a conversation with someone and see where the conversation lead.

I pulled up to the convenience store and sat there in the rental car having no idea who I was going to start a random conversation with or what I was even going to say. As I looked around the parking lot I noticed a car with a flat tire and I thought, “Wow, somebody is going to have a bad night.” That is when it hit me. I had nothing to do, I didn’t know anyone in this town, but what I did know was that changing a flat tire by yourself in the middle of the night sucks. I was determined to see if I could help in someway and spread a little happiness in the process.

I walked into the store got my drink, stepped up to the counter and said to the guy behind the counter, “Do you know who’s car that is out in the parking lot with the flat tire?” He had a stunned look on his face when he asked me, “Which car?” I said, “The black Honda over there, the back driver’s side tire is flat and I was wondering if you knew who’s car it was so I could help them fix it.” He got a little smirk on his face and said, “That’s my car, are you serious about wanting to help?” I said with a smile, “Yeah, I don’t have anything to do tonight and I can have your spare on there in no time.”

That little act of kindness was all it took to meet a new and interesting person. I fixed his tire for him, keep him company for the hour left in his shift, and ended up hanging out with him and his older brother every night for the next week, while I was in town. There are some very interesting people in this world, sometimes all it takes is a random act of happiness to make a new friend.

What can you do in your town to spread a little happiness?

Random Acts Of Happiness Online

It has been a while since my last random act of happiness. It took Mark Shead from Productivity501.com to remind me how a easy it is to spread a little happiness online.

I had linked to Mark’s blog after reading one of his posts. I didn’t expect anything to come from the link I just enjoyed his post, so when I saw his email in my inbox I was intrigued. Mark had a quick suggestion for me on how to improve my RSS Feed. His tip worked, my feed count increased, and Mark had spread some happiness.

When was the last time you emailed a blogger you didn’t know about something that could help them without expecting anything in return?

This is a great way to meet new an interesting people in your blogging niche. Your mission find some way to help another blogger. Here are a few suggestions for spreading happiness online:

• Email a blogger you have never emailed a suggestion, tip, or trick
• Comment on a blog you have never commented on before and say something nice
• Offer to guest blog for someone in your niche
• Link to a blogger for no reason, but that you enjoyed a post they wrote
• Welcome a new blogger to the wonderful world of blogging

There are many bloggers that have forgotten how blogging made them happy when they first started. Chances are they stopped spreading happiness to other blogger by linking, leaving comments, or just offering to help another blogger that is just getting started. Remember we were all new once and all of us could use a little extra happiness now and then. If you want to increase your level of happiness make time to share a random act of happiness each and everyday.

Make Time For Happiness - Series:

• Part 1 - Adding Happiness To Your To-Do List
• Part 2 - Taking Your Happiness To The Next Level - Decrease Interruptions
• Part 3 - Don’t Be Stingy! - Give Some Happiness To Increase Your Happiness
• Part 4 - How To Start Pursuing Your Happiness Today

Have you preformed a random act of happiness lately? Has a stranger helped you in some way and made your day better? I would love to read your story in the comments section.