The Happy Habit

Our society is full of unhappy, stressed-out people. Todd Patkin says that many of the habits, attitudes, and thought processes that negatively impact our lives as adults actually have their roots in childhood. Here, he offers eight ways for parents to make “happy” a habit in their kids’ lives.

• Show your kids what happiness looks like.
• Teach your kids to love themselves.
• Help them to let go of the obsession with perfectionism.
• Teach your kids to play to their strengths.
• Helps your kids develop the power of perspective.
• Raise your kids to be helpers.
• Give your kids the gift of gratitude.
• Make happiness a priority in your family.

Take a minute to really process those ideas and see if you can “teach” your kids to make their own happiness today, tomorrow, and every day. 

Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In, grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Tufts University, he joined the family business and spent the next eighteen years helping to grow it to new heights. After it was purchased by Advance Auto Parts in 2005, he was free to focus on his main passions: philanthropy and giving back to the community, spending time with family and friends, and helping more people learn how to be happy. Todd lives with his wonderful wife, Yadira, their amazing son, Josh, and two great dogs, Tucker and Hunter.