Secret to Happiness is gratitude—it’s been shown to boost your immune system, lift your mood, and reduce loneliness. Buddhists have known this for centuries.

My spouse and I just traveled to Bhutan, where we camped at 11,500 feet after climbing to the Bumdra monastery. The vistas were breathtaking, and the air was clear and pure. Nevertheless, my cold hands and feet were all I could think of as the sun set.

All I wanted to do was crawl into my sleeping bag and be warm as we snuggled around the fire. The temperature had dropped just below freezing, and my chattering teeth overwhelmed any happiness I might have experienced.

In contrast, our guide appeared to be immune to the cold. I was wrapped in my down coat, cold, while he was dressed in a Gho, a traditional knee-length robe that ties at the waist.

He said that he was thankful to be able to camp in this hallowed location when I asked him if he was cold.

I could not believe his response, so I kept asking him questions. How he could overlook this bone-chilling cold was beyond me. Did he not require a heater and desire a warmer jacket?

“I am fortunate to have a fire, I am fortunate to have this work, I am fortunate to have a tent, and I am fortunate to have your company,” he said, allowing me to be humbled by his response.

I understood that he had just revealed a crucial happiness secret. By concentrating on our blessings, we can maintain our focus on the positive rather than the negative and enjoy the present.

Instead of appreciating what we have and concentrating on what is going well, human nature is to focus on the negative and desire what we do not have.

After months of planning, my spouse and I had hiked up the mountain for hours. However, I had grumbled about the heat during the hike, and now I was grumbling about the cold. However, my perspective changed and I began to concentrate on my blessings as I heard our guide convey his infectious feeling of thankfulness.

I started to appreciate the night sky’s amazing silence and darkness. Living in a metropolis that blocks out the light makes it impossible to truly appreciate the stars, so I started to pay close attention to them. I started to pay attention to this knowledgeable man and appreciate his tales.

Here’s the thing: feeling thankful can help you suppress your bad feelings. If you merely allow your mind to focus, you will not be able to truly see what is missing or not going well.

My attitude changed, the cold subsided, and I was overcome with happiness and thankfulness for this amazing experience as I started to appreciate the quiet of the night with my spouse.

Things come and go, the weather shifts, and both positive and negative experiences come to an end. However, having an attitude of thankfulness enables us to savor each and every moment.

To begin experiencing a little more happiness on a regular basis, take these easy steps:

1. Keep a gratitude journal.

Embrace thankfulness every day. Write down 10 wonderful things that have happened to you or for which you are thankful each day. Maintaining your attention on the good will have a significant impact.

2. Practice present moment awareness.

Your perspective can be significantly altered by developing the practice of being totally present and simply being thankful for what is rather than hoping for something in the past or the future. When that moment slips away, catch yourself and gently remind yourself to return.

3. Think bigger than yourself.

Participate in a cause that you find meaningful. You will begin to appreciate what you have more as you become conscious of those who are less fortunate than you.

4. Share the love with your family and friends.

Develop gratitude for other people and express your gratitude to them on a regular basis for their assistance around the house or for consistently inviting you out for a fun dinner date. People will want to keep doing it if they concentrate on the positive!

5. Replace complaints with gratitude.

Try thinking about your blessings instead of your perceived shortcomings, such as “I wish my house were bigger, my car were finer, or I had more money.”

For what do you feel thankful today?