Three easy steps to feel and be happier, according to this wellness coach

1. Start small

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Ralitza advocates starting with small steps, and adding a step every day: “We can start by smiling and saying, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ – to the stranger who holds the elevator door open for you, for example. It may sound simple, but notice how these small actions change our own mood.”

2. Look out for the little things

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“Often, the most precious things are those that are not easily described as ‘aims and goals’. A good meal with a close friend, a beautiful sunset – these might be things that we already have in our daily lives but we take them for granted. Yet these are the moments that make us happy. And so when we focus on what we have, we discover how good our lives actually are,” says Ralitza.

3. Keep a gratitude journal

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“Even when we think there is nothing to be grateful for in our lives, we can challenge ourselves to start,” encourages Ralitza. Begin with general blessings that millions of other people don’t have – like hot meals every day. “By adding to our list every day, soon we will see how many reasons we have to be grateful.”