Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 273

More Paradoxes of a Happiness Project: I Desire to Not Want.

One of my Secrets of Adulthood (cribbed from Niels Bohr) is "The opposite of a great truth is also true." As I've worked on my happiness project, I've recognized many paradoxes.

In Marc Lesser's book Less: Accomplishing More by Doing Less, I read a fascinating list of such paradoxes by Chade-Meng Tan, a Google engineer whose title is "Jolly Good Fellow."

I was quite struck by his list – and also by the number of times that my resolutions and paradoxes overlapped with his.

His list, with my...

"Energy is Eternal Delight."

"Energy is eternal delight."

* The folks at Drinking Diaries did an interview with me about the relationship between drinking and happiness. Very thought-provoking questions.

* Interested in starting your own happiness project? If you'd like to take a look at my personal Resolutions Chart, for inspiration, just email me at grubin, then the "at" sign, then gretchenrubin dot com. (Sorry about writing it in that roundabout way; I'm trying to thwart spammers.) Just write...

Jump!

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.

My feet rarely leave the ground. For exercise, I use the stationery bike, the Stairmaster, yoga, and weight-training. I walk everywhere. I almost never run up the stairs or hop over puddles.

I think I need...

I'm Extremely Happy Because...

I'm extremely happy because my sister had her baby last night! A boy.

Here she is, a week ago, courtesy of Sarah Fain Has Starfish Envy, talking about the upcoming event.

My sister lives in Los Angeles, a long way from New York, but fortunately I'll be out there very soon for my book tour, and because of the schedule, I get to stay in L.A. for three days. I can't wait to see the baby -- and to see my sister and brother-in-law as parents.

I'm so thrilled, and relieved, and excited. Zoikes...

Five Tips for Planning Effective New Year's Resolutions.

Forty-four percent of Americans make New Year's resolutions, and I know I always do. I'm more inclined to make resolutions than ever, in fact, because if my happiness project has convinced me of anything, it has convinced me that resolutions – made right – can make a huge difference in boosting happiness.

So how do you resolve well? This is trickier than it sounds. Here are some tips for making your resolutions as effective as possible. Remember, right now, you're in the planning stage...

Does Everyone Need a Theme Song? Come On, Get Happy.

Because I literally cannot resist this call to happiness, here is the "Come On, Get Happy" theme song from The Partridge Family television show. I sat grinning away as I listened to it.

If you need it, here's the link.

And speaking of getting happier, join the 2010 Happiness Challenge! Start your own happiness project and make 2010 a happier year.

To help people stick with their happiness projects, I've set up a sign-up sheet so you can add your name to the 2010 Year of Happiness challenge...

In Which Holiday Decorating Reminds Me of Several Happiness Lessons.

I recently put up our holiday decorations, and as I was doing it, I was reminded of several important happiness lessons.

1. I love my husband, just as he is. One of the challenges of a happiness project is accepting your own nature – and also your sweetheart's nature. I wish my husband got a big kick out of holiday decorating, but he doesn't. There it is. I can't bully him into wanting to hang ornaments, and I'm happier (and he's happier) if I don't try. Relatedly…

2. Given that my husband...

"Do Not Spoil What You Have By Desiring What You Have Not..."

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for."

* I'm a longtime fan of Ben Casnocha's blog, but I just discovered his Business Rules of Thumb Wiki. This is a wonderful compilation of rules -- what I call, in my own terminology "true rules" and "Secrets of Adulthood." It's a fantastic, thoughtful list.

* If you live in NYC, DC, Boston, Chicago, KC, Denver, LA, SF, or Seattle -- come to a...

Don't Try to Keep That Resolution -- Part II.

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 weeks ago, I posted about why I'd decided to give up my oft-repeated, but never kept, resolution to "Entertain more."

I decided that I needed to let go of this resolution. Even though I knew that in the long...

Two Things that Make Me Happy Today.

As I approach the publication day of my book (oh, did I forget to mention it? December 29), two things have made me happy.

First, I'm scheduled to go on the Today show on Friday, January 8. Very exciting! I did the Today show for my first book, Power Money Fame Sex (which is sort of the opposite of The Happiness Project). It was such an out-of-body experience that I have absolutely no recollection of talking to Matt Lauer. I'm thrilled to get the chance to talk about my book there. (And it's...