Small Things Make Big Differences


A Great Idea …

“Good things and high accomplishments, studies have shown, have astonishingly little power to raise happiness more than transiently: In less than three months, major events…lose their impact on happiness levels.” (Psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman in his book, Authentic Happiness, p. 49)

In Other Words …

We think the big things will make us happy. We’re mistaken. Even lottery winners, after a few months, quickly return to their pre-winning happiness levels. Solid, sustaining happiness comes from appreciating the small good things in our lives.

How this Applies to You …

Look around you. What are some good things that have happened in your life today? Name as many as you can. Relish them. Write them down. As you appreciate the good in your life, you will find greater happiness and satisfaction.

To Find Out More …

For more great ideas (or to share your ideas), check out our Navigating Life’s Journey blog

For excellent (and free!) programs on improving your personal well being, check out The Personal Journey and Managing Stress at www.arfamilies.org. To further explore The Personal Journey, look for sets of questions for each site along The Personal Journey. Those questions together with the journaling pages can give you greater gratification in life.

For more information, we recommend Authentic Happiness or Learned Optimism, both by Martin E. P. Seligman.

Author: H. Wallace Goddard

Wally Goddard is a retired professor of Family Life having served in Arkansas and Alabama. He developed programs on personal well-being, marriage, and parenting. He is well known for his many creative family programs, including The Marriage Garden, The Parenting Journey, and Blueprint for Happiness. Wally has authored or co-authored several books including Between Parent and Child, The Soft-Spoken Parent, and Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage. He has been recognized by his colleagues with several awards including the Outstanding Family Life Educator Award. Wally and his wife, Nancy, have three adult children, fourteen grandchildren, and have cared for many foster children over the years. Wally describes Nancy as the finest human being he has ever known.

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