The author Elizabeth Gilbert might not be a household name, but we all know her most famous work.
She's the author of the famous memoir Eat, Pray, Love, which was eventually turned into a movie starring Julia Roberts.
Elizabeth isn't just a top-notch essayist, she is also a bit of a lifestyle guru.
She specializes in happiness, in celebrating the little things in life that add up to big and joyful moments.
Part of her philosophy is the Happiness Jar, filled with positive memories for each and every day.
Whether that little memory is a sweet encounter with a lonely old man in the grocery store, or something as simple as a delicious meal, every little bit adds up!
Even on a terrible day, it's always possible to find a tiny sliver of a silver lining, and sometimes that's all we need to remember how truly blessed we are!
Scroll through below to read through Gilbert's uplifting take on the reason everyone should start keeping a happiness jar.
Elizabeth Gilbert posted her optimistic philosophy on the key to happiness on her Facebook page.
Her many fans and followers were immediately caught up in the enthusiasm!
Her post was shared over 4,000 times, and 16,000 people reacted to her joyful idea.
She writes:
I have a HAPPINESS JAR.
You're looking at it, right here. Every day, at the end of the day, I take a scrap of paper, and I write upon it the happiest moment of my day. Then I put it in the jar.
That's it.
Takes 30 seconds.
So simple.
There's always SOMETHING to put in the jar.
Even on the crappiest day, there's a happiest moment.
(Or at the very least: A LEAST crappy moment.)
I've felt moments of grace and happiness at funerals, in hospitals, in the midst of pain and loss and hard times.
A moment of kindness from a stranger.
Somebody hands you a cup of coffee.
You finally get to take off your shoes. It stops raining.
There it is: a flicker of light. Write it down.
Throw it in the jar. Keep it forever.
We just love Elizabeth's philosophy, and we can't wait to start up our own happiness jars!
Do any of you keep happiness jars at home? Let us know in the comments!
And be sure to SHARE this joyful idea with friends and family!