Happiness Doesn't Have to Be a Heavy Lift

New York Times

27-06-2025

I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, both by the news and by a bit of life stuff. I wish I could retreat to a mountaintop, but my more realistic plan is to seek out the smallest possible things I can do each day to give myself a lift.
Every morning, for instance, I open my Merlin Bird ID app to see if any new birds have shown up in my backyard. (This morning I learned about a Northern Flicker, a bird I did not know existed.)
Micro-moments of positivity like this really can improve your well-being, said Barbara Fredrickson, director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Even though these moments are fleeting, she said, they can 'act as nutrients for psychological health and growth, helping you become a better version of yourself, little by little.'
Her research, and that of others, suggests that recognizing, cultivating and savoring these bits of happiness builds well-being, resilience and resourcefulness.
I asked experts how to incorporate more low-lift, bare-minimum pleasures into your life.
'A pet peeve is something small that disproportionately annoys you,' said Bree Groff, author of the upcoming book 'Today Was Fun.' In contrast, she said, 'a 'reverse pet peeve' is something small that brings you disproportionate joy.'
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