Genetics might account for up to 33 percent of our happiness (or lack thereof), but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless to improve our own moods. Sometimes all it takes is a change in mindset — no matter how small — to turn a crappy day into a better one. To help you shift into a happier gear, we’ve rounded up five things from around the web that inspire and delight us, and we hope they’ll do the same for you. We’ll be sharing our favorite happiness-boosters each week, so be sure to check back — and please share your own either in the comments or the community!
1. This National Geographic photo album from India’s festival of colors
It’s featured as one of our happiest festivals, and these lively color-full pictures can attest that the Holi Festival is living up to the title.
2. This video in which a nine-year-old explains the meaning of life
Yup, pretty much sums it up. And that a nine-year-old kid could state so eloquently what some of us spend our whole lives trying to discern warms our more-than-nine-years-old hearts.
3. This bunny eating a flower
It’s absurdly adorable, it’s sooo happy, and it’s eating a plant (and we all know plants are good for us). In short, this bunny is pretty much one of the healthiest, happiest creatures on the planet, and looking at it makes us feel that way, too.
4. This massive demonstration of support for marriage equality
We know: Facebook updates are hardly the be all/end all of social activism. But 2.7 million people showed support for marriage equality by changing their profile pictures last week, and that sends a pretty powerful message to anyone logging on to ye olde FB (that’s a lot of people). Millions of people voicing support for the rights of others = us being happy.
5. This video of humans yelling like goats yelling like humans
Take an internet meme, make fun of it while simultaneously capitalizing on its popularity, and turn the theme on its head in an absurdist, hilarious homage to the animal yearning shared by humans and goats? It’s brilliant. It will make you laugh. Laughing will make you feel happy.
What’s making you happy this week? Share in the comments below!
