Tuesday, April 13, 2010

My own Happiness Project

So proud of Adam Lambert on Idol...proves over and over that he's a true musician at heart, not just another singer with a nice voice. Excited to see him on Idol tomorrow night.

I'm reading The Happiness Project now by Gretchen Rubin. I thought I'd share with...myself...what I have learned thus far (one chapter).

I don't want to get to old age and say "What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner."

50% of happiness is due to genetics, 10-20% due to life circumstances (age, family, etc.), and 30-40% is due to the person's thoughts and actions.

The opposite of happiness is NOT depression (big one for me!)

"The concept of 'accessibility' suggested to me that by constantly reminding myself of certain goals and ideas, I could keep them more active in my mind". This is so true. The more you think about happy things, the more it will just become natural. It's retraining your brain to think of positive thoughts instead of negative ones. And what's the result? Hopefully a more content and happy demeanor and feeling. And, DUH, this is in the bible LOL (Philippians 4:8-10).

Rubin discusses her "secrets of adulthood" which are:
  • People don't notice my mistakes as much as I think
  • It's okay to ask for help
  • Most decisions don't require extensive research
  • Do good, feel good
  • Be nice to everyone
  • Bring a sweater (SO true)
  • Do a little each day to accomplish huge tasks
  • Soap and water remove most stains
  • If you can't find it, clean up
  • Happiness doesn't always make you feel happy
  • What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while
  • You don't have to be good at everything
  • If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough
  • Don't let perfect be the enemy of good
  • What's fun for you may not be fun for everyone and vice versa
In a 2006 study, 84% of Americans ranked themselves as "very happy/pretty happy"
In a survey of 45 countries, people rank themselves a 7 on a 1-10 scale of happiness on average.

Research shows that happy people are more productive, altruistic, likable, healthier, creative, helpful, resilient, friendlier and make better friends, colleagues and citizens

And one that really hit me - "I didn't want to wait for a crisis to remake my life". WOW.


So, hopefully shortly after reading this book (or possibly during), I want to do my own happiness project and I hope you all will keep me accountable :) Peace out.

2 comments:

Phyllis Renée said...

This is a great post, Kelsy! I'll have to put that book on my "to read" list.

I made my own "secrets of adulthood" list. Here's the link if you want to read it. http://phyllisrenee.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-ive-learned-so-far.html

Have you read A Million Miles by Donald Miller? I finished a couple of weeks ago. Soooooo good! Goes along with the "remaking your life" theme.

Kelsy said...

That's really good!! Makes me want to write my own "secrets of adulthood"...even though I'm only 21.