Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 250

"The Great Thing in This World Is Not So Much Where We Stand As in What Direction We Are Moving."

"The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving."

–Oliver Wendell Holmes

* Check out the Behavior Gap -- "sketches that explore the relationship between money and values."

* On Facebook? Join the Facebook Page – lots of interesting discussion there.

Happiness Is...Seeing My Book Carried in Papyrus!

Papyrus is a wonderful chain of stores that carries gifts, stationery, library items, and the like, all beautifully presented.

I'm a big fan of Papyrus, so I was thrilled when a friend emailed me this photo. I had no idea that they carried The Happiness Project! Maybe it's just this one store. Still -- so fun.

* On the same day, another friend emailed me the link to this terrific print, a perfect reminder for a happiness project.

* Are you reading The Happiness Project with a group? I've...

Make a Joke of It. It's Difficult, But Effective.

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

I know that one of the most effective ways to handle negative emotions is to Lighten up. Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act...

"Owning Up to Our Choices Ultimately Makes Us Happier; If We Don't Like our Choices, We Can Change Them. "

Happiness interview: Laura Vanderkam.

My favorite part of BlogHer, the blogging conference, was getting to meet so many people -- and so many people whose work I admire. I loved Laura Vanderkam's book, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, so I was particularly happy to meet her.

In 168 Hours, Laura argues that we have more time than we think. We feel rushed and overwhelmed, that we don't have enough time for the things that are important to us, but she points out ways to reclaim...

7 Tips for Avoiding Procrastination. Without Delay is the Easiest Way.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
Seven tips for avoiding procrastination.

Going to the gym. Practicing a new skill when you have no skill. Giving bad news. Dealing with tech support.

We all have to make ourselves do things that we just don't want to do. Here are some tricks I've learned that help me power through the procrastination.

1. Do it first thing in the morning. If you're dreading doing something, you're going to be able to think of more creative excuses as the day goes...

Video: Stop the Nagging. You'll Be Happier!

2010 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2010 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2010 a happier year – and even if you haven't officially signed up for the challenge -- last month's theme was Fun. Last week's theme was to Start a collection. Did you try to follow that resolution? Did it help to boost your happiness?

I also recently re-posted the book video for The Happiness Project, which lists a lot of my favorite resolutions. What resolutions have you tried? I want to...

What Samuel Johnson, Thoreau, and Charlie Parker Were All Talking About.

Often I become preoccupied with a particular idea, and take a very great pleasure in seeing that idea appear over and over.

I keep extensive notes on many ideas, most of which I never have time to write about, but which have captivated my interest for years. Sometimes they do turn into book – like Profane Waste. What a joy it was to write that book! And to express what I'd been thinking about for so long.

One of the ideas that I've traced for years now is the paradoxical idea -- to put it in...

"Bees, by the Instinct of Nature, Do Love Their Hives, and Birds Their Nests."

"Bees, by the instinct of nature, do love their hives, and birds their nests."

--John Bramhall

* I really enjoyed a visit to So Be Organized. Lots of great ideas for getting more organized, and also happier.

* If you'd like to see a copy of the comic I did, Gretchen Rubin and the Quest for a Passion -- all about trying to "Be Gretchen" and accept myself -- email me at grubin at gretchenrubin dot com. Just write "comic" in the subject line.

Be Nice. It Matters.

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

Several times a week, I walk past the Sunshine Flowers deli at the corner of 62nd and Lexington.

Every time I go by, I smile and get a bit of a boost to keep my happiness resolutions when I see the handwritten...

"Be Yourself, But Keep Your Inner Jerk in Check."

Happiness interview: Bob Sutton.

I'm a huge, raving fan of Bob Sutton's writing. His blog, Work Matters, is consistently engaging, and I loved his book, The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't.

Bob's new book, Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best... and Learn from the Worst, just came out, and it is every bit as good as the last one. Because I work as a writer, I don't really have a boss or act as a boss, but even so, I found it fascinating. Bob...