Why Some People Seem Happier?
A tiny habit for happier days :)
PSYCHOLOGY
9/25/20255 min read
Have you ever wondered why some people seem genuinely happier than others?
The answer is not luck, more money, or an easier life. It is practice. Gratitude is a skill, not an emotion (feeling grateful is an emotion). Practice the skill and the emotion tends to follow.
I’m not saying everyone who seems happier has done gratitude journaling. Many people are simply more grateful by personality, their environment or family shaped that mindset early on.
How It Started for Me
Αll of this started years ago when I watched a documentary set in a small village in Kenya and saw so many smiling kids.
I thought, they’re happy because they simply have a home, food, and shoes to wear, and I’m unhappy even though I have more than enough? The filmmaker even said at the end that the kids were generally happy day after day, which surprised him too. I got a bit embarrassed by my own complaints, so I looked for the reason, and I believe it mostly comes down to gratitude.
Gratitude is a foundation of being happy.Of course It doesn’t magically change your life, but for me, after a few months of doing it, when I wake up now I think, you know what? Life is good. I have my bed. I don’t worry about having food to eat. I’m able to work. I have dreams. I can travel. I have people who love me, and I love them.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude is not “thinking positive”. It is a practical loop you can train.
1) Acknowledgment. Take time to acknowledge the good things in your life,even on tough days, there are always things to be thankful for.
2) Appreciation. Feeling a deep sense of thankfulness for these good things,truly valuing what you have.
3) Expression. Τhis is about sharing your gratitude with others. Tell people exactly what they did, why it mattered, and how it helped you.
Why is gratitude important?
What this study did
Scope: 64 randomized studies, 33 combined in one meta-analysis.
What was tested: gratitude journaling, thank-you letters or messages, and “three good things,” compared with neutral activities or waitlists.
Effect on gratitude: increases of about 3 to 6 percent.
Effect on well-being: life satisfaction about 7% higher and overall mental well-being about 6% higher.
Effect on symptoms: anxiety lower by about 1.6 points and depressive symptoms lower by about 1.9 points.
Gratitude practices produce small but real improvements for general well-being
Of course, gratitude is not magic. Hundreds of factors shape our lives. However, it is a reliable step toward a better mood and perspective.
To Be Clear: Limits of Gratitude
It does not fix injustice or toxic environments.
It does not replace boundaries, therapy, or medical care.
It will not work if you perform it mechanically and never move to expression or action.
HOW TO PRACICE IT
The three levels of practice
Level 1: Foundations
A notebook or your phone. Keep it simple.
Acknowledge 3(or more) specific things from today or the past
Appreciate it in one sentence. Why it mattered.
3 main categories (with 2 quick examples)
1)Everyday things
I’m grateful for air conditioning and that I get to use it. How cool is it that my room can get cold in five minutes? I love it.
I’m grateful for smartphones. I called [Name] on the walk home we laughed a lot., something that was impossible just 30 to 40 years ago.
2) Situations and moments
I’m grateful for last night’s sunset with a friend. It felt calm and it slowed me down from the fast pace of daily life.
I’m grateful for playing with my cat. Playing with her helps me relax.
3) People
I’m grateful for [Name], who asked how I was doing with [the specific issue] and genuinely cared.
I’m grateful for a random conversation I had with an old man on the street. He shared interesting ideas and I learned something new.
These examples are more generic. Real reflections are usually personal and more emotional.
Level 2: Precision
Make it specific and human.
Think questions like:
Who did one small thing for me this week that made a real difference?
What is a problem I once thought impossible that is now solved?
When was the last time I laughed so hard I forgot my worries? Who was I with?
Which mistake turned out to teach me something useful I actually needed?
Level 3: Expression as habit
Say it often and in detail.
One message or two sentences of appreciation every day.
In person if possible, otherwise voice note or text.
Format: “What they did, why it mattered, what changed for you.”
3 examples
1)Thank you for listening to me yesterday without interrupting(What they did). I really needed to get things off my chest, and your patience helped me calm down.(why it mattered) I felt lighter afterwards.(what changed for you)
2)Thank you for making me laugh when I was stressed.(What they did) That moment mattered more than you think — it broke the tension(why it mattered) and reminded me not to take everything so seriously.(what changed for you)
3)I appreciate how you were honest with me about that mistake.(What they did) It mattered because it helped me see what I overlooked,(why it mattered) and now I know how to improve.(what changed for you)
Of course, this is the “ideal” format, but it doesn’t have to look exactly like this every single time. A simple “thank you” is fine, yet if you go a step further and share why it mattered or how it made a difference for you, that’s when politeness turns into genuine appreciation.
Start simple. Do Level 1 for a few weeks. Then add a few Level-2 questions, and when you’re ready, tell people directly. If it feels right, use all three levels at your own pace.
Common mistakes in gratitude practice
No context. Don’t just write “phone.” Add why it matters.
Never telling a person. Writing is great, but if you never share your gratitude, you miss the deeper effect. Even a small message can create a beautiful connection. Don’t stop at Level 1 or 2, sometimes take it to Level 3 and share your gratitude with someone. You’ll be surprised how meaningful it feels.
Inconsistency. You won’t notice change in one, two, or even three days. Gratitude builds slowly. Personally, I started to notice a real difference after one month. Everyone’s timeline is different, but consistency matters more than perfection.
How to measure it(if you want)
Keep it boring and objective.
Mood index. Rate your mood 0–10 once a day for 30 days. Do it at the same time, ideally right before you write three gratitudes in the same note.
Our mood is shaped by many factors during the day, but tracking it alongside your gratitude practice helps you see the bigger picture. Over time, you can notice whether expressing gratitude is actually shifting your mindset and making you feel more positive about your life.
Closing
Today, do this:
Write 3 things you’re grateful for today.
Pick one person and send them two sentences of gratitude: what they did and why it mattered.
Repeat for a month.