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Make somebody happy!

Author and human behavior expert, Tom Rath, was asked this question asked by Jennifer Weigel in and article which was posted on chicagotribune.com. In other words, what can we do right now that will immediately improve how we feel about things? His answer was simple: “The single most important thing you can do is to focus on a small act that picks up the spirits of another person. That’s actually more helpful than if you’re trying to help yourself in that moment.” He’s referring to things like smiling at someone, paying them a compliment, doing something to brighten their day or asking someone how they’re doing and giving them your undivided attention when they answer. This paraphrases what Theodore Reik proclaimed back in 1957: “In order to be happy oneself, it is necessary to make at least one other person happy.”  He went on to say, “The secret to human happiness is not in self-seeking, but in self-forgetting.” What this means is that if we focus on trying to improve the happiness and well-being of those around us, our own sense of happiness and well-being will take care of itself and, the effect is immediate.