5. Prioritizing Positivity: A New Way to Think About Happiness Habits

Episode 5: Prioritizing Positivity: A New Way to Think About Happiness Habits

Most of us go through our days on autopilot—tackling to-do lists, handling responsibilities, and hoping that something fun might happen along the way. But what if we could intentionally design our days to include moments of joy, fun, meaning, and peace?

In this episode of Redefining Happiness, I introduce the concept of "prioritizing positivity," a term rooted in research by Lahnna Catalino and Barbara Fredrickson. You’ll learn that it’s not about forcing a smile or ignoring difficulties, but about intentionally creating space in your day for experiences that genuinely lift you up. I'll share how this evidence-based approach can transform your daily experience without requiring major life changes.

What You'll Learn:

• The difference between waiting for happiness and designing your day for it
• Research showing how intentionally scheduling positive moments improves well-being
• Why efficiency-focused days leave us emotionally undernourished
• Simple ways to build small "happiness pockets" into even your busiest days
• How to let joy coexist with struggle, avoiding toxic positivity

Episode Highlights

Building vs. Waiting for Happiness
I've found that most of us build our days for efficiency rather than emotion, hoping happiness will somehow find its way in. Prioritizing positivity flips this approach by intentionally scheduling moments that bring joy, creating a day that supports well-being.

The Science of Scheduled Joy
I share research by Catalino and Fredrickson showing that people who intentionally make space for positive activities throughout their day report greater life satisfaction and well-being than those who wait for happiness to happen to them.

Redefining What Happiness Means
I explain how true happiness isn't found in achievement, approval, or wealth—it's built from small meaningful moments experienced throughout your day. This practice helps you stop measuring happiness by accomplishments and start noticing how your life actually feels.

This Week's Happiness Challenge

Positivity Planning

1. Choose one small daily activity that brings you genuine enjoyment (not something productive—just something fun or pleasant)
2. Schedule it in your calendar or set an alarm—make it non-negotiable
3. Reflect at the end of the day on how this moment affected your overall mood and experience

This simple practice helps you create intentional space for positive emotions, transforming how your day feels and how you remember it.

Resources Mentioned

• [Free Download] Prioritizing Positivity Planner - I've created this with reflection prompts, a five-day tracker, and a guide to building your own feel-good routine
• Research by Lahnna Catalino and Barbara Fredrickson on prioritizing positivity: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/Catalino_2014_Prioritizing_Positivity.pdf

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