I just finished reading this article on Big Think. Apparently when we engage in contemplating how our circumstances could be worse than they are, we appreciate our lives more. I wonder why this technique is never advised in popular magazines?

This is apparently why bronze medalists are happier than silver medalists: bronze medalists think that they could not get a medal at all while silver medalists are focused on contemplating why didn’t they get gold.

We need to be careful with this type of thinking though when we compare our lives with other people’s lives. I used to have a friend who would constantly look for problems in my life only to feel better about herself. We’re not friends anymore.

It’s an interesting read though and I’d definitely recommend it.