I just read this cool book by Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project. It was an impulse buy at the bookstore. The subtitle intrigued me: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. What I loved about this book was that it wasn't just a month to month chronicle of her efforts to make resolutions and arrive at truths for her own happiness, but also a scholarly look at what philosophers, modern psychology, and pop culture have to say on the subject of happiness.
I was simultaneously exhausted and fascinated by the sheer number of resolutions Rubin tackled--new tasks added each month until December where she had to do all of them at once. Tasks such as: Exercise better, clear clutter, quit nagging, give proofs of love, work smart, enjoy now...And that's just the first three months!
The book comes with a guide to start your own Happiness Project, which I do plan to try. The main truths from the book that resonated with me for finding happiness were:
1. Staying true to yourself (including being honest about your likes and dislikes)
2. Striving for constant growth and challenge (it's the journey, not the destination)
3. The days are long, the years are short (my new parenting mantra).
Have you read the book? Do you have favorite ways to boost your happiness?
I was simultaneously exhausted and fascinated by the sheer number of resolutions Rubin tackled--new tasks added each month until December where she had to do all of them at once. Tasks such as: Exercise better, clear clutter, quit nagging, give proofs of love, work smart, enjoy now...And that's just the first three months!
The book comes with a guide to start your own Happiness Project, which I do plan to try. The main truths from the book that resonated with me for finding happiness were:
1. Staying true to yourself (including being honest about your likes and dislikes)
2. Striving for constant growth and challenge (it's the journey, not the destination)
3. The days are long, the years are short (my new parenting mantra).
Have you read the book? Do you have favorite ways to boost your happiness?

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