I read this book as part of health challenge group I was apart of on Facebook. I'd never heard of the book before but it's supposed to be very popular. I checked out the book at the library and decided I'll buy it if I really loved it. I don't think I'll buy it. I loved the idea and principles behind the book but after a few chapters I was tired of reading the book. I finished it out but I most likely won't read it again.
The author, Gretchen Rubin decided one morning that she wanted to focus more on her happiness. She had a great life but she didn't feel as happy as she should be. So she broke her resolutions to become happier in to twelve categories and began January 1. Here is a basic bullet point list of her resolutions:
- Boost Energy
- Go to sleep earlier
- Exercise better
- Toss, restore, organize
- Tackle a nagging task
- Act more energetic
- Remember Love-Marriage
- Quit nagging
- Don't expect praise or appreciation
- Fight right
- No dumping
- Give proofs of love
- Aim Higher-Work
- Launch a blog
- Enjoy the fun of failure
- Ask for help
- Work smart
- Enjoy now
- Lighten Up-Parenthood
- Sing in the morning
- Acknowledge the reality of peoples feelings
- Be a treasure of happy memories
- Take time for projects
- Be Serious About Play- Leisure
- Find more fun
- Take time to be silly
- Go off the path
- Start a collection
- Make Time For Friends
- Remember birthdays
- Be generous
- Show up
- Don't gossip
- Make three new friends
- Buy Some Happiness
- Indulge in a modest splurge
- Buy needful things
- Spend out
- Give something up
- Contemplate the Heavens
- Read memoirs of catastrophe
- Keep a gratitude book
- Imitate a spiritual master
- Pursue a Passion-Books
- Write a novel
- Make time
- Forget about results
- Master a new technology
- Pay Attention-Mindfulness
- Mediate on Koans
- Examine true rules
- Stimulate the mind in new ways
- Keep a food diary
- Keep a Contented Heart-Attitude
- Laugh out loud
- Use good manners
- Give positive reviews
- Find an area of refuge
- Boot Camp Perfect-Happiness
For each month, Rubin spends time to explain research she did for each topic and what she found. She then summarizes her success in following her resolution for that month and what she learned. She encourages the reader to create their own happiness project and gives the reader the tools you'll need to do so. I'm not going to be taking mine as serious as she did but I am in the process of creating some resolutions to follow–things I want to spend more time doing because I enjoy it and things I want to be better at. Overall, I think it's a great idea and I think anyone could benefit from completing their own happiness project!
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