3 Science-Backed Secrets to Boost Your Happiness Instantly

Hey there relationship rockstar,

Ever feel like you're running on a hamster wheel, chasing happiness but never quite catching it?

Or maybe you've caught yourself thinking, "We'll be happy when..."

• We get that promotion

• We buy our dream house

• We have more time together

Sound familiar?

I've been there. And let me tell you, it's a trap.

Today, I'm going to share some mind-blowing insights about how to reach true happiness.

Ready to discover the secrets to lasting happiness and a thriving relationship?

But as always and more importantly, I want to show you how to apply these concepts helping you to get better in controlling your emotions leading to more love and connection.

Let’s dive in!

The 40% Solution

Here's a shocker: 50% of your happiness is determined by your genes.

Yep, you read that right. Half of your happiness potential is locked in your DNA.

But here's where it gets interesting:

• 10% comes from life circumstances (job, money, where you live)

• 40% comes from intentional activities and choices YOU make

You know what this means?

You have the power to boost your happiness by a whopping 40%!

And the best part? This happiness boost can supercharge your relationship too.

3 Happiness Hacks for Rockstar Relationships

1. Practice Gratitude (Together)

Remember when you first fell in love?

Everything your partner did was amazing.

Their laugh, their quirks, even the way they slurped their coffee.

But over time, we start taking things for granted.

It's human nature.

Here's how to flip the script:

1. Set a "Gratitude Date" once a week

2. Take turns sharing 3 things you appreciate about each other

3. Be specific! Instead of "You're a great cook," try "I love how you always remember to make my favorite dish when I've had a tough day."

Good friends of mine, Markus and Sarah, started this practice. After just a month, Sarah told me:

"It's like we're dating again! I'm seeing Markus through fresh eyes."

2. Cultivate Optimism (It's Contagious!)

Ever noticed how some couples seem to weather any storm together?

Their secret weapon? Optimism.

Optimistic people:

• Bounce back faster from setbacks

• Find creative solutions to problems

• Inspire those around them (including their partners!)

But here's the thing: Optimism isn't just for "naturally positive" people. It's a skill you can learn.

Try this:

1. When facing a challenge, ask yourself: "What's one potential upside to this situation?"

2. Share your perspective with your partner

3. Brainstorm together on how to make that positive outcome a reality

My partner and I used this technique when we both quit our jobs to start our businesses and had to watch our spending more carefully as building them took longer than expected.

Instead of spiraling into stress, we saw it as an opportunity to focus on the simple things in life that bring us joy.

After all it is to start the business we’ve been dreaming about for years.

Today, we're both running a successful online business.

3. Invest in Experiences (Not Stuff)

Want to know the fastest way to kill your happiness (and your relationship)?

The hedonic treadmill.

It's that never-ending chase for the next big thing. The newer car, the bigger house, the fancier vacation.

But here's the truth bomb: Material things don't make us happier in the long run. We adapt to them quickly, and then we're off chasing the next thing.

What does create lasting happiness? Experiences.

Shared experiences:

• Create bonds and memories

• Provide stories you'll tell for years

• Often involve quality time together (major relationship booster!)

Your mission:

1. Sit down with your partner

2. Each write down 3 experiences you'd love to share (big or small!)

3. Pick one to plan and do this month

Need ideas? Think cooking class, hiking trip, learning a new language together, or even a "stay-cation" where you explore your own city like tourists.

Supercharge Your Happiness with AI: Your Personal Happiness Coach

Remember when I told you about I stumbled upon a game-changer: AI-powered personal coaching?

Imagine having a relationship and happiness guru available 24/7, ready to guide you through challenges, celebrate your wins, and keep you accountable.

That's what you get in AI tools like ChatGPT.

The best part? It's FREE.

Ready to turbocharge your happiness journey?

Let's dive into how you can use AI to create your personal happiness and relationship coach.

Your AI Happiness Coach: The Master Prompt

Copy and paste this prompt into ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/). Remember to replace the {placeholders} with your specific information.

# Role
You are an expert happiness coach, well-versed in positive psychology, particularly the work of Sonja Lyubomirsky in "The How of Happiness." You specialize in helping individuals and couples boost their happiness and improve their relationships.

# Context
I am seeking guidance to increase my personal happiness and enhance my relationship. Here's some background:
- Personal Situation: {your current life situation}
- Relationship Status: {single/dating/married/etc.}
- Happiness Level (1-10): {your current happiness level}
- Main Challenges: {your biggest obstacles to happiness}
- Goals: {what you want to achieve in terms of happiness and relationships}

# Task
Based on the principles from "The How of Happiness" and my personal context, provide me with:

1. A personalized happiness-boosting plan:
   - Suggest 3 specific activities tailored to my situation
   - Explain how each activity relates to the science of happiness
   - Provide practical tips for incorporating these into my daily routine

2. Relationship enhancement strategies (if applicable):
   - Recommend 2 exercises to strengthen my connection with my partner
   - Explain how these exercises can increase both individual and relationship happiness

3. Accountability system:
   - Design a simple tracking method for my happiness activities
   - Suggest how to use AI (like ChatGPT) for regular check-ins and motivation

4. Overcoming obstacles:
   - Anticipate potential challenges in sticking to the plan
   - Provide strategies to overcome these obstacles

5. Measuring progress:
   - Suggest ways to measure my happiness growth over time
   - Explain how to adjust the plan based on results

# Specifics
- Use friendly, conversational language
- Provide science-based explanations, but keep them simple and engaging
- Include personal anecdotes or examples to illustrate points (you can create these)
- Encourage creativity and personalization in applying the strategies

# Example Output
"Hey there, happiness seeker! Based on your situation, here's a personalized plan to boost your joy:

1. Gratitude Journaling with a Twist: Instead of just listing things you're grateful for, write a short story about one good thing that happened today. This engages your creativity and deepens the positive emotion. Science shows this can significantly increase your happiness over time.

2. 'Happiness Coins': Create a jar of physical 'coins' (can be pebbles or actual coins). Each time you do something kind, add a coin. At the end of the week, use these coins for a small treat. This combines acts of kindness with savoring - both powerful happiness boosters!

3. For your relationship, try the '5-minute eye contact challenge'. Sit facing your partner and maintain eye contact for 5 minutes. It might feel awkward at first, but studies show this deep connection can reignite feelings of love and understanding.

To track your progress, create a simple 'Happiness Meter' in your phone's notes app. Rate your happiness from 1-10 each night and jot down one thing that contributed to your happiness that day.

Remember, the journey to happiness isn't always smooth. On tough days, be kind to yourself. That self-compassion? It's a happiness booster too!"

# Notes
- Adapt your advice based on my responses and progress
- Encourage me to return for regular check-ins and updates
- Remind me that happiness is a skill that can be developed with practice

HOW TO USE THE PROMPT

Instructions for the Couple

Here is the output I received for the example inputs above.

Read the full output here!

The Bottom Line

You don't need to wait for happiness to magically appear in your relationship. You have the power to create it, starting today.

Remember:

• Practice gratitude

• Cultivate optimism

• Invest in experiences

These aren't just feel-good tips. They're science-backed strategies proven to boost your happiness and strengthen your bond.

So, which one will you try first?

Share your stories 

Hit reply and let me know – I'd love to hear how it goes or on my social platforms using the hashtag #AIrelationshipcoach.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your relationship journey.

Warm regards,

Stephan

P.S. Want to dive deeper into relationship-boosting happiness strategies? Watch out my free guide: "10 Happiness Hacks for Couples." It's packed with practical tips you can start using right away.