Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 267

Happiness Is…A Great Conference, and Book Event, in Houston.

I just got back from a great trip to Houston. This morning, I was the keynote speaker at the terrific Mom 2.0 summit. I had so many interesting conversations there – lots of new people, a few people I already knew, and several "virtual" friends whom I'd never actually met. It always startles me for a moment when an email address or a Twitter avatar presents itself in the form of an actual person.

Last night, I gave a talk at Blue Willow Books. They served champagne and cupcakes, to set a...

Take Time for Projects and Keep a New Family Tradition.

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.

Many of my resolutions are meant to push me to wander, play, experiment, and appreciate. For example, the resolution to Take time for projects reminds me to undertake big family projects, like making homemade books or...

Nine Tips for Feeling Happier When You've Lost Your Job -- or Fear You Might.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

Being out of work is a major happiness challenge, and these days, a lot of people have lost their jobs, or are worried about hanging onto their jobs.

So, given this major drain on your happiness, are there steps you can take to feel better at such a time? Even if you don't think you can feel happy, you might be able to feel happier. Keeping yourself as serene...

Poll: Are You Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions?

It's now mid-February – which means that about 80% of New Year's resolutions have been abandoned. I started keeping my Resolutions Chart as a way to do a better job of sticking to my resolutions. I've made resolutions my whole life, but until the chart gave me a way to hold myself accountable, I didn't do a very good job of keeping them.

How have you done with your New Year's resolution? I'll be very interested to see the answers to this poll. If you're making good progress at keeping a...

For Valentine's Day, Two "New Traditions." Also, the Weekly Video.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, which gave me the opportunity to keep one of my favorite resolutions, to Keep a new family tradition. This resolution works alongside some of my other important family-related resolutions, like Be a treasure house of happy memories and Take time for projects.

Family traditions are an important way to build happy memories and to do fun family projects. Traditions make occasions feel special and exciting. They mark the passage of time in a happy way. They...

"No Man Knows How Bad He Is Till He Has Tried Very Hard to Be Good."

"No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good…Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is."

-- C.S. Lewis

* In a book group? If you'd like a copy of the reading-group discussion guide for The Happiness Project, just email me at grubin [at:] gretchenrubin [.com:]. (Sorry to write in that odd way; trying to thwart spammers.) Just write "reading group guide" in the subject line. I'll send it right off.

I'm Keeping My Resolution to "Ask for Help."

One of my most helpful, but also surprisingly challenging, resolutions is to "Ask for help." Why is it so hard to ask for help? I don't know. But I'm pushing myself to keep that resolution, so here's my request for help! Actually, two requests.

1. If you've read the book The Happiness Project – and especially if you liked the book! – I'd appreciate it if you would consider writing an online review. Readers respect the views of other readers. When you're in a physical bookstore, it's much...

Consider This Passage from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

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.

One of my passions in life is children's literature, and of course, I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. My four-year-old loves the HP movies (yes, I know they're scary, but they don't bother her, so I let her watch them)...

Happiness Is…A Great Event at the 92nd Street Y. Also, an Important Happiness Question.

I had a great time speaking at the 92nd Street Y last night. It's an organization that pulls in an extraordinary range of fascinating speakers, so I was thrilled to be asked to give a talk there.

One issue came up during the question-and-answer period, and I'm surprised that I haven't thought about it more carefully before now – because it's an obvious challenge to happiness.

How do you insulate yourself from the people who drag down your happiness? How do you protect yourself from their...

Seeing the New York Times Today Made Me Very HAPPY.

I have to say, I got a big rush of happiness when I opened my New York Times this morning. Check it out! A full-page ad at the back of the Arts section!

* If seeing this fabulous ad makes you want to buy a copy of The Happiness Project, click here!
Read sample chapters.
Listen to an audiobook excerpt.
Watch the one-minute book video.