I picked up The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin after hearing many glowing recommendations from friends and the interweb. The premise sounded interesting yet light. Rubin, not suffering from depression or any tragedy, was feeling a noticeable lack of happiness in her own life. She spent a year researching happiness and carrying out her Happiness Project. It was an academic pursuit but also a practical one – she sought to enjoy and appreciate the wonderful things already in her life after realizing she may be taking them for granted. I think we all are guilty of this a bit, having it good and expecting that to be the norm. Rubin knew she wasn’t being present in her own life, letting negative thoughts and bad moods run rampant, pushing extraneous joy away to make sure she was being productive and not frivolous. I can totally relate. I often times let my sense of duty to my own life take over, for better or for worse. I was intrigued and inspired by Rubin’s approach: setting twelve happiness goals, one for each month, and spending a year tackling the whole project.
Within the first few pages I knew I was going to love this book. Rubin felt like a kindred spirit to me with her purposeful nature, a hint of contemplation, as well as her “insatiable need for credit.” She wasn’t in the wrong for dutifully living her life, but she knew she was existing only at the surface level. Her realization that she may be in danger of wasting her life inspired her to start her Happiness Project.
I’m not going to rehash the whole book because I do think it’s worth a read. However, I do want to touch on some of my favorite themes. As I said, Rubin’s Happiness Project devoted each month of an entire year to exploring and engaging in a specific topic (eg. Boost Energy, Lighten Up, Buy Some Happiness, Pay Attention, etc.) Here are my favorite take aways:
- Gold stars may be an idle, self righteous pursuit. Instead of wanting credit for doing good deeds, do them because you want to do them for yourself and not for the credit that is associated with them.
- Clutter, when out of control, confronts you with your own mistakes. Rubin categorizes clutter into nostalgic clutter (yearbooks, old papers, all the birthday cards you’ve ever received), conservation clutter (things kept because of their potential usefulness), bargain/freebie clutter (i.e. usually crap), clutch clutter (old standbys that are probably junk – a paint splattered tshirt, ratty yoga pants, etc.), and aspirational clutter (my own personal biggest “mistake,” a whole closet full of things I “might be able to fit into someday”).
- Start applying the One Minute Rule: don’t postpone anything that can be done in less than one minute (an email, tidying up, folding socks, etc.)
- “Although we presume that we act because of the way we feel, in fact we often feel because of the way we act.”
- Aim for a high standard of behavior (extreme nice, genuine appreciation, acting polite, little negativity, no gossip).
- Stop thinking that in some idealistic, far reaching future you will be happier, things will be better, life will be easier. All you have is right now. The “arrival fallacy” (the belief that when you arrive at a certain destination, you’ll be happy) is an idea the prevents us from enjoying now.
- “Enthusiasm is more important to mastery than innate ability, it turns out, because the single most important element in developing an expertise is your willingness to practice.”
- We seek to control our lives, but the unfamiliar and unexpected are important sources of happiness.
- “I have an idea of who I wish I were, and that obscures my understanding of who I actually am.”
- Denying bad feelings intensifies them; acknowledging bad feelings allows good feelings to return.
- Don’t overrate the fun activities that you didn’t do and underrate your own inclinations. The things that others do are no more enjoyable, valuable, cultured, or legitimate than those you do.
- What did you do for fun as a child? Revisit those passions.
- There is an I in “happiness.”
- “Pouring out ideas is better for creativity than doling them out by the teaspoon.”
- Sometimes later becomes never.
- Gratitude is important to happiness: it fosters forbearance, brings freedom from envy, makes it easier to live within your means, and be generous to others.
- Irony and world-weariness allow people a level of detachment from their choices.
- The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted.
- The desire to change is meaningless unless you can find a way to make the change happen.
- Last but certainly not least, the most influential mantra I’ve adopted since reading this book: It is easy to be heavy, hard to be light. (“Dying is easy, comedy is hard.”)
These tidbits and take-aways aren’t new ideas. But Rubin’s purpose is to remind us of ways we can be more aware and appreciative of our own happiness in the present moment. I know when I get caught up in my own day to day, these basic principles are the first to go.
My goals of balance and being present are always on my mind but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to achieve those things or how to measure them, if they can be measured at all. I think happiness is a great baseline measurement for any goal though. Even if it doesn’t directly relate, being happy may keep you motivated, focused, energetic. For example, when I met Joy The Baker I was feeling a little blog-dead. My creativity was low, the motivation to whip up new recipes was nowhere to be found, my desire to sit in front of my computer and edit photos was nonexistent. But then I met Joy and felt so inspired. I read her book cover to cover and couldn’t wait to get back in the kitchen. When I go back and think about the whole thing it was really the happiness I felt from the experience that reinvigorated me.
What are your happiness mantras? What keeps you actively engaged in Right Now?
I have been on the hunt for a new book, and this one sounds perfect. Thanks Kim! I’ll let you know when I’m done so we can chat about it :)
Awesome! I hope you like it!
:-D
I keep this mantra pinned to the wall of my cubicle: “If we center our thoughts on what we are doing rather than on what others might think of it; then we will create something we can be proud of that will probably be favorably accepted by others.”
Perfect.
love that book, so glad you read it too!
It was fantastic!
Happiness is: my awesome rescue cats playing in their tube from Petco, the feeling I get when a story is published, intimate moments with the love of my life, an awesome glass of wine after a super hard day at a job that I love, a really, really hard class at the gym, taking a day off from said gym and not killing myself over it, laughing with my parents, and realizing life is NOT about comparisons and that we ALL have our own individual paths. It’s OK, and sometimes completely necessary to have super lazy, unproductive days (preferably in bed) with the person you love ;)
These are all fantastic definitions of happiness! Thank you for sharing!
OMG! I normally hate self-help style books like this, but I loved The Happiness Project. A), because she is such a great writer and doesn’t repeat herself that much, and B), because everything she says is very applicable – no big changes – but little things here and there that you can apply to your life. The one-minute rule is now one of my favorites. I also loved her section on fun – made me finally throw away the guilt of not finding certain things “fun,” and just appreciate what I find fun.
I totally agree! This book is accessible without being preachy or obnoxious.
I read this recently as well, and I too found it delightful and helpful.
The two things that resonated with me most (perhaps because they’re challenging things that I need to work on) are the importance of spending out on occasion, and being more of a satisficer. I’m very much a maximizer.
I totally agree! I love her discussion on how sometimes money can buy happiness. I think “spending out” has gotten easier for me over the last few years now that I have a comfortable salary and have the means. It’s a great feeling.
I think I might just pick it up – Looks like a good book!
Katie
http://katieraspberry.wordpress.com/
It’s really great, absolutely check it out!
Great reminder. Never get enough of remembering to be happy when we’re “not happy enough.”
Thank you for sharing.
~Tinkerbell
Exactly! Thanks for commenting :)
I think I need to copy and paste your bullet points to a blank doc, print it and hang it on my wall — great insights!
Love “There is an “i” in happiness.”
:)
That’s such a great idea I might even do it myself! Thanks for commenting!
I’m in the middle of that book right now! I’m trying to personalize her happiness project to try and fit my needs more exactly but following her guidelines in just the first chapter has helped to much! Great post!
Right, there’s A LOT to read through in the book. I’ve taken some things and left others. It’s really flexible like that. Enjoy the book!
I’ve never heard of the book – so thanks for the introduction – sounds really interesting – could be the next book club suggestion.
Do look it up and give it a chance. You can find more reviews on GoodReads too if you want a second opinion.
Very Interesting. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Easy for me. My goals are to remain a positive force in my children’s, and now grand-children’s lives. Fun post, and congrats on being freshly pressed.
Great goals! Thanks for commenting :)
I love books like this. Not only do they give you ideas and help you live a better life, they also make you put your life into perspective. I always follow the 1 minute rule, I find I get so much more done! I agree that it can be hard to live in the moment and not want to be or have something *more*. Ive actually written a post recently about living in the moment, check it out if you want .
Exactly! Such good content and a great reminder to live for right now.
I definitely need to give this book a shot. It looks so good! :)
You absolutely do!
I forgot about this book! I’ve got my reading list (you can see my summer reading list at http://resonare.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/summer-2012-reading-list/, and this is right up there with it. I really appreciate your take aways. You’re giving me ideas about how I should do my book reviews on my blog. Thanks!
Oh awesome, I really appreciate your feedback. Good luck with your book list (looks like a great one)!
I read this about two years ago and enjoyed it – I might just have to revisit it. :)
It’s definitely a book I could read every few years, for sure!
i read this book and loved it! super choice! :)
Thanks so much!
I enjoy reading her column in Good Housekeeping and her book is an excellent choice to read!
Me too, she’s fantastic!
Reblogged this on tenleymyers and commented:
Tenley Myers
My book club selected this book, as it has been on several of our to-read lists lately. It seemed a little too “Eat Pray Love” for some of us so I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this book so much. Thanks for the review!
I thought it would be that way too but it really isn’t. Not preachy at all. Just totally real and empowering.
That’s exactly why I’ve always put it down — I couldn’t finish Eat Pray Love and thought the Happiness Project would be much of the same, even though I’m drawn to it every time I see it. Will definitely pick it up next time! Great review.
It’s definitely different, less spiritual and preachy. More practical and easy to relate.
I’m in the (apparently) minority of people who hated “Eat Pray Love”. I thought she was whiny and intolerable. I really enjoyed “The Happiness Project”, though, I think in great part because the basic premise is that her life is good and she’s happy with it, so how to focus more on the positive than the negative.
(By the way, the movie “Eat Pray Love” is much easier to take than the book!)
It’s definitely much different, thanks for sharing!
Funny. I didn’t like Happiness Project at all! I found it whiny and found the author to be self-centered and pretentious. I did enjoy the book Eat Pray Love a lot though! That was an incredible journey, unlike a quest to de-clutter a home or go to they gym every day.
Well, it’s not for everyone I guess.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. The books sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much!!
Great and thorough review! Adding it to my GoodReads list! Cheers,
Courtney Hosny
http://www.oneweektocrazy.com
Fabulous! I love GoodReads, it’s such a great site.
I agree with you, The Happiness Project was a great book to read. Please read my review of it and let me know what you think!
http://kmbookmarks.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/the-happiness-project-by-gretchen-rubin/
Nice review!
This sounds like a great book! I might just buy it! :) Great review!
You absolutely should, enjoy!
My book group read this least year and we all loved it! Practical suggestions that are easy to adopt.
So glad to hear a book club story of success with the book (many commenters have wondered if it would work). Kudos to you all!
Currently adding this to my “To Read” list, thank you very much!
Wonderful, you’re welcome!
Happiness is transient and tricky. I love Viktor Franki’s take on it:
“Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself.”
My blog (ohcheers.com) doesn’t make me happy. But the fact that I’ve DONE it and that I continue to DO it (and indeed when I’m DOING it), I receive happiness from it.
Whereas when I neglect it I feel bad for not keeping up with the writing and communicative efforts.
So here I am, wondering if I contribute to your own happiness, dear writer – Domestocrat – by responding to such a well-considered philosophic post? :)
I look forward to reading the book itself. Great summary of action points btw!
Haha, you have! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
I loved the book too – 9 years after becoming a mum, I am finally getting back in touch with who I am, and trying to get my mum-life-balance back .. all very aligned with a happiness project!
http://www.mum-life-balance.com
What a great motivator!
Thanks for writing a great review! My sister also recommended this book. These reminders and mantras are important to remember.
I hope you give it a read!
Reblogged this on Windchimes and Lullabies and commented:
I’m going to pick up one soon! :) Vic
Your post caught my eye because I am currently reading the Happiness Project and felt instantly the same way that you did about it! I am thoroughly enjoying it and have loved being able to think about different things within my own life that I would like to explore and make improvements to. And, after taking a look around your blog, I found that you are in Boston! I moved to Boston a little over a year and a half ago and am loving it! Cheers!
Awesome, thanks for commenting and enjoy the city! It’s really the best place in the whole world ;)
I too can only agree with what others have said…..the book is great. I have had it in my bookshelf for a little while. The one thing I want to do is live in the present and try not to think about the worries that tomorrow or next month or next year brings. Those things will be here before we know it…too soon.
Exactly, so simple and so true.
I had such high expectations for this book, but I just couldn’t relate to the writer. I did appreciate several of her recommendations for increasing happiness – especially like the eliminate clutter suggestion – but I was underwhelmed during the entire read.
Well it’s not for everyone and that’s ok.
This has been on my To Read List for forever. Think I’ll move it to the top now.Thanks!
Wonderful!
Wow! Looks like you really got a lot out of this book! Good for you. I haven’t read the book myself, but followed Gretchen’s blog avidly when I was on my own personal quest for positivity. Luckily I don’t need external sources of daily motivation anymore after internalizing my aspirations. I have also heard Gretchen interviewed for a very interesting Canadian radio show called ‘Say No to Happiness?’ which was very enlightening. One part of her blog I really enjoyed was her happiness interviews–in fact, I am inspired to do my own interviews!
Wow, that’s amazing. Good for you! Sounds like you’re living your own Happiness Project to the fullest!
This book IS amazing. I am trying to reach my own Happiness goals and while I do falter and fumble, I love the fact that I am consciously enjoying the process AND the results. This book and the website is seriously a must- read.
I totally agree. It’s not an easy journey but there are so many resources out there to help stay on track and keep motivated.
This sounds like a GREAT book. Just your brief review inspired me. Thanks for sharing.
You Matter! Smiles, Nancy
Oh wow, thank you so much!
Thank you for this great review. This book was already on my list and your review has bumped it to the top!
Awesome!!
I read the book a while back, as well, but it didn’t resonate with me to the extent it seems to have with a lot of people. One thing I found disturbing about the project was this whole inward-looking, focus on the self taken to find happiness; I actually think we become or remain unhappy when we focus too much on ourselves at the cost of failing to be more outward-looking or focusing on our interactions with others/community. I also question the pursuit of happiness as an outcome. I think we’re really looking for ‘meaning’, which I think represents the golden mean between happiness and misery. There is an insightful podcast on CBC radio’s “Ideas” called “Say No to Happiness”, which features Gretchen Rubin (=the author of “The Happiness Project”) alongside some eminent scholars on the topic. Well worth a listen: http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2012/02/14/say-no-to-happiness-2/
That’s an interesting take on it. My belief is that we can’t be happy, love, comfort, or cherish others until we can do those things first for ourselves. But I can understand how being preoccupied within ourselves can take over in a negative way too. Thanks for the link!
I thought this comment interesting – and read something recently similarly in the book Flow by M. Csikszentmihalyi who talks a lot about the importance of meaning, of cultivating inner purpose yet focusing attention on the world (i.e. “it is difficult to notice the environment as long as most of one’s psychic energy is absorbed by the concerns and desires of the ego”. Also well worth a read. Thanks for the CBC ideas link. And to Domestocrat, very nice book review!
Very poignant!
Thanks, and actually “Flow” is on my “To read” list after having completed “Drive” by Daniel Pink. One book you might also want to check out if you haven’t read it already, which is quite profound and uplifting and often cited by other authors is “Man’s Search for Meaning” by (the late) Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor and noted psychiatrist… Anything by Harold S Kushner would also be highly recommended… Also, for a great cartoon video on taking control of, or reframing, stress, check out: http://youtu.be/I6402QJp52M by Dr. Mike Evans. Cheers :-)
Good tips!
Cool, thanks – I’ve read Frankl’s book but the others you cite are new to me. Will check out!
This will be my next read. Base from your review, I’ve found out that the author and I have something in common. I started the same project in the beginning of the year and entitled it “The 2012 Experiment” and one of it’s feature is this blog where I write stories of people whose lives have touched mine. I hope i’ll be as successful as Rubin..
That’s very cool, good luck with your experiment! :)
I loved it: was easy to read and practical!
I totally agree.
I happened to wander into a bookstore at lunch time today and came across this book as one of the staff “picks” or featured books. The few pages that I did flip through seemed interesting. After seeing your post here, I am interested in reading it. Thanks for sharing! :)
It’s definitely worth a read.
I loved the point “The desire to change is meaningless unless you can find a way to make the change happen” You will never have action without a plan….hence the term “Plan of Action”
Exactly! Wishful thinking is nice but it won’t get you anywhere.
The “take away” about gratitude is my favorite. I never realized how much keeping a gratitude journal (writing down five things I’m grateful for each day) would change my life – it is powerful!
I completely agree. Plus we take things for granted less when we are cognizant about just how much they mean to us.
I love your post! I recently wrote about how much I enjoyed the book on my blog as well. http://www.mysemiorganizedlife.wordpress.com–“My Happiness Inspiration.” My favorite thing to remember from her is “The days are long but the years are short.” I have read the book twice and found new things on my second read to enjoy. Be sure to email her for a signed book plate!
She responded to me on Twitter which was a huge surprise! A second read is definitely in order for me too.
Wonderful review, detailed and informative. Thanks for sharing, I’m for sure is going to grab a copy at our local bookstore; hope it’s available. :)
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colorado springs divorce lawyers
I’m sure it will be, enjoy!
I’ve heard about this book in a few places now. Will have to add it to the reading list!
You must!
Good review! I’m so excited to go book-shopping now!
Have fun!
This is a really cool idea for a book, but also for life. This is something I am working on as well, searching for happiness in all corners of the globe!
Same here!
This is one of books I regularly come back to :) And every time I find there something new, something I have missed before. Thanks for sharing and..stay happy! ;)
Exactly, I love that about it. Thank you!
inspired to read it – great post, thank you :-)
Thank you for commenting!
Read the happiness some time ago and found it to be a really inspirational book. Have tried since then to implement some of the ideas Rubin put forward (but not many achieved!!)
If you enjoyed the happiness project then you may also want to check out The Big Necessity by Rose George or Whats in Stuff/ by Pat Thomas. read both of those afterwards (on gf’s recommendation)
stu
Thanks for the recommendation, I will check those out.
Reblogged this on Original Hunger and commented:
Added to my reading list, seems appropriate
I bought this book on my kindle six months ago – You’ve inspired me to get going and read it! It sure won’t do any good just sitting there! Thank you for the motivation!
Haha, good luck and enjoy it!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed and well done on a great review. I shall definitely check it out. Finding happiness for me is in the little things: hearing my seven year old tell me stories of his day, daily chats with my sisters and friends, listening to a beloved CD again, reading my old journal entries and always seeing the funny side of all situations and actually laughing at some of them – oh and laughing out loud to stuff I hear on radio.
Your list is fabulous, thank you so much for sharing!
Wow, sounds like a great book!
It is, check it out!
I just bought it! yay! Very much looking forward to reading it
I have the Happiness project one-a-day calendar so every day I get some of her tidbits and advice! I love it! Glad you loved the book
Ooooh, I need to look in to that!
I’ve just bought this book based on your post! Start charging comission!! :P
Haha, I wish I could!! Enjoy!
Read this book awhile back and had forgotten some of the important parts, but this post reminded me of them! :)
Glad to have reminded you! :)
Just like you said — even though these aren’t new ideas, it’s still great to be reminded of them. And that’s what your post did for me, but even better because they’re all presented there in a neat succinct passage. So thanks :)
So happy to help!
Read this about a year ago and definitely time for a re-visit. I, too, liked her purposeful approach to happiness and also to clutter! Great review!
http://wordpress.livritome.com
Thanks so much!!!
The greatest thing I took from the book is the idea that personal growth leads to happiness. As long as we are working toward something or ingesting new ideas then that feeling of accomplishment leads to happiness. To me that was the whole moral of the story. She was growing in terms of looking at life differently, trying new things and taking on new challenges.
I agree and that’s such a huge take away. If we’re growing and maturing as people, happiness will follow suit.
This is now on my reading list! Thanks.
Great, you’re welcome!
I read this book a while back and absolutely loved it. I’m thinking that it might be worth a re-visit sometime soon. Thanks for the reminder. :-)
Definitely. I’m thinking about that myself.
Great review! (And congrats on the Freshly Pressed!)
I loved the idea of “Pouring out ideas is better for creativity than doling them out by the teaspoon.” Reminds me of Annie Dillard’s quote: “One of the few things I know about writing is this: Spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book, give it, give it all, give it now.” Because as another of your points in the post says, later might become never.
Two mantras I have came to mind immediately. (They also work for running, which is when I first started using them.) First is “I keep having dreams” (from Frank Turner’s song, “I am Disappeared”) and the other is “This chance to be alive and breathing” (from Tool’s song “Parabola”). Both are great reminders to me when I either need motivation or reminders why I am here.
Very inspiring and focused, thank you for commenting!
You’ve done an excellent job of summing up this book. It’s on my Kindle, but not one of my current reads. That’s gonna change in a hurry :-) I do read extensively in all the blossoming new realms of positive psychology and neuropsychobiology, but I’ve never read a book about them being put into action. Thanks for the inspiration to read this book.
My mantras? Again, thanks for making me think about that. I’ve probably got plenty negative mantras roaming around below the surface. One somewhat neutral mantra is: Do in the opposite direction. I learned that as a kid listening to a lecture on fire safety (don’t run with the crowd getting out of a burning building–you’ll get trampled. Go in the opposite direction). It stuck ike Gorilla Glue. I don’t like running with the crowd on anything, be it fashion, reading, or even lingerie. It has served me well. Now it seems I should go in the opposite direction of the negativity that fuels my life. I’m on it, and the Kindle is firing up right now:-)
Love this blog. It’s an excellent example to follow.
Thanks so for the kind words!
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while now, but never got around to it, and then eventually forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder and congratulations on getting Freshly Pressed! Looks like I know what to do on my next trip to the bookstore!
Thank you very much!!
Ooh, I bought this recently in The Gutter Bookshop in Dublin on a visit (“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Oscar Wilde) Mostly I bought it just to buy something to support a LOVELY independant bookshop, and the more I looked at it, and the deeper it sant into my TBR pile, the less interesting it looked. I hadn’t heard anything about it until now.
I’m glad that she includes gratitude. Since reading ‘A Thousand Blessings’ very recently by Ann Voskamp, it seems very important for fulfillment. Thanks so much for this, and a big congrats on being Freshly Pressed. Perhaps this will make it’s way to the top of my pile soon, I could do with finding my happiness :) !
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment, I appreciate it!
I really wanna have a try subsequent to reading the book review.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you very much!
Thanks for recommending. I was looking for a good book to read.
Enjoy!!!
I already started reading and I like it very much ! Thanks again!
Glad you’re enjoying it!
I read this book a while ago and I loved it! I loved that I could apply it to my own life – not all of us can be like “Eat, Pray, Love” and jet off to foreign countries for a year. Great review!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed – now I have another healthy Boston blogger to follow! :)
Thank you very much!!!
Nice review…. very well written….
I particularly liked the “One Minute Rule” and aim for “A High Standard of Behavior”. Very apt… I am putting these rules down into a word doc and taking a print out…..
Will definitely read the book as well….. Thanks for sharing…..
Thank you so much for commenting!
I loved this book and took my time reading it last year so I could savor it like a wonderful dessert. It’s really nice, though, to read your take-aways which are a little different from mine. Thank you for sharing!
Haha, I really like that analogy!
Tiene muy buena pinta el libro….gracias por la recomendación.
Gracias!
Sounds like a great read! Thanks!
It is, you’re welcome!
Reblogged this on booksfromthelaundryroom.
Great post. Thanks for the review of this interesting book. I like your summary. Very positive and encouraging!
Glad to have shared it, thanks!
This sounds like exactly what I need to read. Thanks for sharing – I don’t think I would have chosen this book on my own but after reading your insights regarding its contents, I think I’m sold!
Good call, enjoy it!
I do feel bad, I have this book on my shelf sitting for 3 months now. After reading your entry, I am now ready to flip the pages one by one. Good review by the way! :)
Go for it!
Can’t wait to read it! Simple but ingenious truths…love it.
Exactly, enjoy!
Sounds like a great book. Thanks!
It really was, you’re welcome!
Glad you found a book to enjoy and learn. Lots of useful tidbits to remember at times from that book. But thanks for excerpting the useful ones!
■What did you do for fun as a child? Revisit those passions.
Well, in response to above, I returned to bicycling 20 yrs. ago and look forward to several decades more of it as part of my llfestyle.
Very cool!
“Although we presume that we act because of the way we feel, in fact we often feel because of the way we act.”
“The desire to change is meaningless unless you can find a way to make the change happen.”
~These are inspiring. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely try to get my hands on this one. It sounds insightful. :)
It really was, thanks!
What a great review, so glad you were featured!! My mantras for happiness…I am only recently starting to think about this more & more…I feel we have no choice but to live in the moment, yet need to keep in mind ONE moment is ALL it takes to be happy, sad or make someone else happy or sad. I am happy it is mentioned not to deny yourself bad feelings; sometimes we need those in order to find our happy again=)
“Just trust yourself. Then you will know how to live” ~Goethe
Thanks so much. GREAT mantra!
Thank you for sharing this review. Now I am gonna rush to my nearest bookstore and buy it.
Cool, thanks!
Reblogged this on missy scribbles.
Great summary! Can put some tips to use right away, but will definitely get this book. My main happiness now comes from mentoring my South African son. You can follow our journey at http://www.long-distance-dad.com. (Figuring out how to make my commenter name auto-link to my blog would make me very happy, too!)
Oh wow, that’s incredible!
I really felt this book called to me as well. I’ve now reread it and am debating how I want to do my own “happiness project” – in some way. I think it also helps that my mom’s name is Gretchen so it really felt like the author was writing to me. Great review and congrats on being freshly pressed.
That’s really cool, good luck!
I am still reading this book and I hope to finish it soon. While reading, I am also taking down notes so I can start my own happiness project :)
I did that too!
I skin every book with the word halliness on it, thank you for giving me another I checkout and it is in the local library. You may like The Happiness Hypothesis. Jonathan Haidt. Your revew made the book sound great.
Wonderful, thanks!
I’m reading the happiness project right now, I decided to follow along with her one month at a time :) It is truly an inspiring book for which you’ve captured nicely in your bulleted highlights. I too met Joy the Baker and she helped me with insights for my blog, like being myself…don’t compare but find my voice and share that. I have her book as well and am working my way through it too. Be well ~Kristy
Such great advice. I love Joy!
I couldn’t stop reading all of the comments, but I need to get back to work. Great list of remarks about the book. I will look for it here, in Mexico. Hope to read it soon and thanks for the recommendation. Very nice post. =)
Happy reading!
Thanks. I have this ebook and started reading it last year.. thanks for the inspiration to pick it back up.
You’re welcome!
Reblogged this on For your mind & future only.
Hi,landed here via freshly Pressed- congratulations! I am quite new to the world of blogging but think It is one of those things that will stay- my post is kind of like work in any case. Am just wondering how you find time to go through all these comments! I loved the book !
You just have to make the time. My readers are extremely important to me so I have resolved to respond to each and every one of them who comments on my blog. I think it’s very important to cultivate one time readers into long term followers.
Interesting – I have read a lot of “self-help” books in my time and given them a rest for the past year, but I may just pick this one up as it seems different and interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Mia http://sosheis.wordpress.com
Definitely do, enjoy!!
Reblogged this on Dancing in the Storms.
Its really awesome and true review i have ever read regarding any book. But, due to my bad luck i have read after a day when i startrd with “War and Piece” so, now i have to wait for a long time to live your suggested book. i will.Thank you.
YESSS! I loved every second of reading this book. It was a gift – the best gift – I received for my 30th birthday last year. I started my blog http://www.inlovebythebeach.blogspot.com because of that book. So happy you enjoyed it and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Cool!
I have recently read this book as well. It actually caught my eye in an airport bookshop for it’s lovely cover design. When I then read the text on the back cover, I knew I needed this book.
I really enjoyed it but I must say that certain things of her recommendations are just not feasible when you live in a European country, simply because they are not part of the culture of that specific country and people would look at you in a strange way if you all of a sudden started applying them. Most Europeans just lack that happy-go-lucky approach to live and being positive is just defined differently.
However, my favorite tagline from the book is “Be Gretchen!” I think most of us want to please so badly that we sacrifice our happiness trying to be somebody else when really all we can be is ourselves. I think that message is what makes this book so great.
Very good observations, thanks for sharing!
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trial
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About finding your core and use it as a waypointer
Reblogged this on Welcome To My Life and commented:
Loved this!
Love this book!
Thanks for the blog, I’m off to see if kobo has an e-version of it to read on my iPad. I see you have a post on that too so might read that next :)
Nice!!
Reblogged this on You may say I'm a dreamer.
I really loved this book.. I was so lucky to read this book on December.. and now i am devising my own happiness project and hopefully follow it this year..with new goals set each month.. I recommend it for all..