Butter is awesome- full of great stuff!

I have a butter question, actually. I just decided that buying the whole "spread from the fridge" butter is a rip off, so I chopped a stick of butter in half and put it in a container and keep it on the counter to use.

But its still a bit hard (probably a bit cold in our house!!!). I have to take out the bit I want to use and mash it with a knife for a minute so it softens up, otherwise it rips apart the bread.

Does anyone know of any ways to soften it- should I mix it with olive oil or cream or something??