Plenty for which to give thanks, all year

We just finished with the Thanksgiving season, and, throughout the land, most people gathered around a table of plenty and were reminded to give thanks.

An interesting study was just released, and, based on research, people can make themselves happier, not for just a day or two, but long-term. This study challenges a long held idea that people are stuck with a basic slot on their happiness thermostat. The old theory also says that the effects of good or bad life events like marriage, a raise, divorce, or disability will simply soften with time. Even as late as 1966, two researchers were quoted as saying "It may be that trying to be happier is as futile as trying to be taller." This study followed thousands of Germans for 17 years. It found that about a quarter of them changed their basic level of satisfaction with life.

It still appears that many people want to be happier; but what can they do? That is where the research comes in.

* One of the exercises was to think of three good things that happened that day and analyze why they occurred. In spite of sounding simplistic, the long-term study showed that this exercise works.

* The second approach that research pointed out was for people to discover their personal strengths and choose the five most prominent ones. Then, every day for a week, they should apply one or more of their strengths in a new way. The idea is it is a good way to get one engaged in a satisfying activity.

* Another strategy was to have people work on savoring pleasing things in life like a warm shower and a good breakfast

* Finally, another strategy that showed promise was asking participants to regularly practice random acts of kindness like holding a door for a stranger or doing a roommate's dishes for 10 weeks. Participants who performed a variety of acts showed an increase in happiness even a month after the experiment was concluded.

There is a body of knowledge emerging that tells us that we can improve our happiness quotient. In fact, one of the researchers said, "Happiness is probably really about work and striving, happiness is the process not the place." Many of us think that when we get everything just right and obtain certain goals everything will be OK and we will be happy. However, once we get everything in place, we still need new goals and activities. A good thought for this time of Thanksgiving.