Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Project is a book about the author’s personal research on how to become a happier person. Rubin spent twelve months testing the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. The book is divided into twelve chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of life such as vitality, marriage, work, parenthood, leisure, friendship, money, eternity, book, mindfulness, attitude, and happiness.
The main theme of the book is pursuing happiness. Rubin believes that happiness might be different for all of us, but we’re all capable of boosting our own happiness. She suggests that the most effective way of making yourself happy is by making others happy. Essentially, Rubin focused on telling people they should do what they want.
Some useful takeaways from the book include:
- Take a moment to evaluate how happy you are
- Making sure you get enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly are the holy trinity of healthy habits.
- You don’t have to uproot your life Eat, Pray, Love style to make yourself happy – in fact, it is entirely possible to do so within the sanctuary of your home.
- Engage in activities that bring you joy, satisfaction, and engagement.
- Pursue your passions and interests.
- Cultivate positive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
- Practice gratitude and mindfulness.
- Set achievable goals and celebrate your successes.
- Learn to let go of negative emotions and forgive others.
- Give back to your community and help others.
- Embrace failure and learn from your mistakes.
- Focus on the present moment and enjoy the journey.
Overall, The Happiness Project is an inspiring and relatable book that offers practical advice on how to live a happier and more fulfilling life.
What I Liked
The book is an engaging interesting read. It takes a different angle on ancient advice and presents modern psychological research in a fun way.
What I Did Not Like
The book can be a bit pollyanna-ish and glib about issues that are difficult for some people (e.g., just close your eyes and get to sleep!).
