Weekly: How to love
I have some exciting news to share with you all!
Starting tomorrow, we're moving to a daily New Happy email. Every day, you'll get one piece of art and one science-backed tip, directly to your inbox every morning.
There's two big reasons why we are doing this:
1. Over and over, we've heard from you that you love starting your day with The New Happy. I can't tell you how touched I am to hear that it gives you a bit of joy, shifts your mood, or offers you a new perspective.
(This really matters: one study from 2011 found that your start-of-day mood impacts the rest of your day!)
2. Increasingly, we're hearing from people that they don't want to be on social media to get our artwork; I hope this makes it more enjoyable for you.
If you want to continue just getting this weekly email, click here to update your preferences: Update your profile.
For those of you who like to start your day with a podcast, we'll also be providing a short daily podcast with these tips! You can subscribe on Apple, Google, or Spotify.
We really hope these changes help you to have happier days. Thanks for being a part of our community.
With gratitude,
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
In this week's newsletter, we're answering a community member's question: "How can I offer more love to the people in my life?"
Feeling loved — for who you are, exactly as you are — is one of the greatest experiences available to us. This precious experience is far too rare, but it doesn't need to be! We can learn to love better, and I want to share one of my favorite science-backed tools to help.
Try This
As you can see from the community responses below, what makes people feel loved is usually the little things. This is backed up by research. One 2020 study found that these small, everyday experiences of love are connected to higher well-being — the more moments of love received, the happier they were.
This week, sit down with someone who matters to you and as, "What do you need right now?"
Listen to what they say. Then, use your creativity, care, and compassion to fulfill that need.
For example:
∙ “I need a break.” — Give them the night off from parenting, surprise them with a trip to your favorite restaurant, or take on one of their regular responsibilities.
∙ “I need appreciation.” — Find five ways to compliment them over the next few days.
∙ “I need to connect.” — Ask them how they are feeling, go for a walk and talk, or do something new and fun together.
Love is deliberate and intentional. With these little check-ins, bit by bit, you can transform your relationships and your well-being, at the same time.
For even more tips, read our new article on CNBC, sharing 9 phrases to help make people feel loved.
More Tips and Tools
1. Stop comparing yourself (Instagram, TikTok )
2. What to do in a hard moment (Instagram)
3. The power of gratitude (Instagram)
4. Get out of your comfort zone (Instagram)
5. How to stop overreacting (Instagram)
6. Cultivate yourself (Instagram)
Community
What's something that makes you feel loved?
"When someone remembers a small detail about me."
"Forehead kisses, a surprise letters in the mail, a simple ask to see each other."
"When people thank me for the work I do for them."
"A random hug."
"Doing what you say you will."
"Small but thoughtful gifts."
"When my best friend makes me food."
"When people listen to me and ask questions with genuine interest."
"When someone sends me a song that reminds them of me."
Inspiration
Books we love (NPR) — 400! Book! Recommendations!
50 poems that will make you happy (The Guardian) — Poetry can also help in very hard moments: a 2021 study found that reading poetry helped hospitalized children reduce their fear and sadness.
Could you survive the quietest place on Earth? (NYT) — I could not.
Before You Go
Thank you for reading
Want to get the New Happy newsletter sent directly to your email every week? It’s free, inspiring, and packed with useful tools. Enter your email and join our community now.
