A team of Japanese university researchers found that college students could increase their sense of happiness "simply by counting one's own acts of kindness for one week." Even people who already considered themselves happy became kinder and more grateful as a result of doing this exercise.

What's more, studies have shown that adults can be quickly trained to be more caring toward others by practicing lovingkindness meditation. Those who did the compassion training were more likely to give money to people who suffered financial loss. When their brains were scanned, they showed more activity in circuits involving motivation, awareness, and pleasure. Compassion training can also lower social anxiety and reduce antisocial behavior.

Neuro-Researcher Mark Waldman