The Happiness Project

[joelsgirl]

Have you guys heard of The Happiness Project? Because I just finished the book, and I think it is SO inspiring!

I am not unhappy by ANY means, but a lot like the author, I feel like I've been blessed with a lot and I want to make the best of it. Or in Oprah speak, I want to "live my best life". I want to live intentionally and not just sort of cruise through life. In the book she doesn't tell you that you should try this, this and that to be happy. She tries these things and then shares her experience. My favorite thing she did was to "act the way I want to feel". She talked about how she would choose to be chipper even when she didn't feel chipper and what a blessing it was, not just to her but to the people around her. She wrote about how her family was impacted by her choice to be happy.

Her first "truth" she discovered is that to think about happiness she has to think about things that "feel good, feel bad and feel right." So that you do things that make you feel good, eliminate behaviors that make you feel bad but you also consider things that you feel like are "right" but don't necessarily bring obvious happiness, like say I feel like I've done the right thing when I feed my kids veggies, even though it's hard and it takes a lot of effort. It was good to be reminded that BEING a good person is a part of happiness.

Anyway, I just totally love this book. I don't agree with every choice she made, and my happiness project will look a lot different from hers, but I'm glad I got to read about her experience and got the reminder to keep making choices that help me become the woman I want to be.

[Sasha]

Oh wow...seems like its something i need to read at this point in my life...

thanks!

[scrap2day]

Oh Yes. I've been following Gretchen's blog since at least January of 2009, if not earlier. (Yes, that's before the book was published. Which was kind of fun for me to watch since I dream of someday being a published author. But enough about me).

I think I found her blog when I saw the moviehttp://www.theyearsareshort.com/

My personal favorite is the decorating for holiday breakfasts (all minor and major holidays).

[junebug]

sounds like i need to read it too. i'm a Debbie Downer lately.

[cheltzey]

It's our book club book for this month, and I agree, it was very inspiring. I definitely recommend it if you just need a "reawakening" in your life, like I did.

[taracotta7]

Thanks for the review of this! I just downloaded to my kindle!

[DawnMarch]

I've followed her blog for a long time too. I love some of her rules of thumb and try to incorporate them into my life (like trying new things increases happiness).

[ColleenSwerb]

This sounds awesome! I'll have to check it out for sure, thanks for sharing Kellie

[*Celeste*]

adding it to my to read list. i could use something uplifting - this time of year is always so stressful.

[NeverendingJen]

added this to my bookclub suggestion list! looks super interesting!

[WalkersMommy]

Thanks for sharing, Kellie! It sound awesome and I think I'll pick it up soon!

[jenn7]

I started this book some time ago, I may have even posted here. But I never finished it. One of these days I need to get back to it. It's something I could really use. Glad to hear you got a lot out of it.

[dana]

i got about halfway through it - and then started reading 'girl with the dragon tattoo" and got sidetracked - LOL ... but - one of my friends is good friends with the author - so that is kind of cool!!

[neenee]

Wow, thanks Kellie. I am going to get this tomorrow. I don't read books very often...maybe once every 4 years and this one sounds like something I really need in my life. I am really wanting to get back to the things that make me happy and are most important in life.

[Ebony]

Going to pick this book up. Sounds exactly like what I need. Thanks for starting this thread Kel!

[chloe]

I haven't read her book but I follow her blog and she's just great!! So much inspiration... She also has the happinness project toolbox that could be useful if you want to start your own project too.

[Lauramarie]

I will take a peek, thanks for sharing. BTW, did you get your MAC working the way you wanted, I know you have some questions a month or so ago?

[Jengerbread88]

I heard about it from Woman's Day, and I'm definitely in the mood to read the book... I'm glad that you liked it. I will definitely check it out!