Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

by Kristin Neff

For this reason, many psychologists argue that we have a happiness “set point” that is largely genetic. This is only part of the story, however. Research also shows that people can boost their happiness levels significantly simply by changing the way they relate to their lives. In other words, it’s not so much what happens to you but your attitude toward what happens that matters. Lyubomirsky finds that several key factors make a difference in terms of maximizing happiness. Some of the most important are being grateful for what you have, looking at the bright side of difficult situations, not comparing yourself to others, practicing acts of kindness, being mindful, and savoring joy. All of these factors fall nicely within the larger concept of self-appreciation, but we’ll focus on two in particular: gratitude and savoring.