By Lois M. Collins

SALT LAKE CITY — An experiment in finding joy is reaping big results — and the process could not be simpler.

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, has launched the BIG JOY Project, encouraging people to find out — in seven minutes a day for seven days — "which micro-acts of joy work best for you and be part of the largest-ever citizen science project on joy," as it says on the project launch page.

The center notes that "joy is an inside job. There are simple, scientifically proven things each of us can do to access more joy."

"We're really excited," project leader Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director at the center, told NPR. "There are statistically significant, measurable changes (including) greater well-being, better coping, less stress and more satisfaction with relationships."

Per NPR, "All of the recommended micro-acts have been linked to emotional well-being in prior published studies. Examples include making a gratitude list or journal, or engaging in acts of kindness such as visiting a sick neighbor or doing a nice gesture for a friend — or a stranger. Some micro-acts involve celebrating another person's joy, or engaging in self-reflection, meditation, or taking the time to identify the silver lining in a bad situation, known as positive reframing."

Joy-seeking is an international effort, with hundreds of countries participating. As of Wednesday morning, the site said 295,747 micro-acts of joy had been perpetrated by 76,180 participants in 205 countries.

The center's Greater Good Magazine says the exercises focus on tiny acts of:

Being kind.

Tuning into what matters.

Making a gratitude list.

Finding something that fills you with awe.

Celebrating someone else's joy.

Shifting perspective.

Choosing to be "a force for good."

Each day, participants can tell the program how they are feeling, before being given a "micro-act of joy" exercise. Each activity takes just a few minutes. "Afterward, we'll ask you to reflect on the thoughts and feelings you had while doing the micro-act of joy," the site says.

There's another check-in right after and one later in the evening....

https://www.ksl.com/article/50790748/can-one-small-daily-act-of-joy-change-your-day--and-you