What Makes You Happy? Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Projects
The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin) – Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk
Happier At Home (Gretchen Rubin) – Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk
When Gretchen Rubin brought out her book The Happiness Project, in December 2009, it sparked an upsurge in people trying to find more happiness in their own daily lives. Her Happiness Project Blog also inspired and motivated others to invest time and energy in their own happiness projects. Now, her recently released book, Happier At Home, is again uplifting and encouraging. In particular, it focuses on the small things which we can all do to greatly increase our personal happiness. Both books are well worth reading.
When we think about happiness in our own lives we often think of needing big things and because of the world we live in and the pressure to acquire, to fit in, these are often materially based. Rubin was not in a position to go off around the world to ‘find herself,’ in fact, she didn’t actually want to do this. She quite simply wanted to ‘change her life without changing her life.’ She wanted to increase her level of happiness within the life that she actually had – something which many of us may aspire to do. The most interesting thing about Rubin’s happiness experiments, and all of the knowledge she accrued in her search, is the way in which she confirmed age-old wisdom by realising that happiness is found in the small things, the everyday, the ‘ordinary.’ While many search for happiness in a distant land, her own revelation was that it was right where she was, she just needed to see what she had more clearly and appreciate things more deeply.
She found that greater happiness lay with small things such as singing in the morning, a special breakfast, a weekly planned outing with her daughter, being kinder within her relationships, encouraging everyone in the family to greet each other (rather than ignoring each other coming and going from the house), arranging small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness and treating where she lived as a holiday destination. These are all things we can aspire to, whatever social setting we come from, however difficult our lives are and however much, or little, we have materially. It is in cherishing the small, the everyday, the simple kindnesses, that we can feel a greater sense of happiness.
Rubin set out to ‘change her life without changing her life’ and she achieved this without travelling the world or chasing a big dream. In seeing what was in front of her all the time, and the things which she hadn’t always appreciated, she came to see the value of where true happiness lies. As she says: “I found that the ruby slippers had been on my feet all along; the bluebird was singing outside my kitchen window.”
What makes you happy? Have you tried a dedicated happiness project? Have you read any of Gretchen Rubin’s books or her Happiness Project Blog? It would be really great to hear your stories and what you have learned from life about happiness.
A wonderful post Ruth — so true that happiness is so often much more accessible than we realize. It’s all within us if we just open and allow. The “ruby slippers” is a perfect metaphor.
For me it’s often the hot bath – mint tea — music – fresh air and sunshine etc. So easy — oh – and also smile therapy — works wonders… very often if I smile I feel lifted. Much Love dear friend – and thank you for always reminding us of what’s important! x Robyn
Thanks so much for your lovely comment Robyn, very glad you enjoyed the post. It’s great to hear about what makes you happy – they are all beautiful things. Robyn, you have science on your side as the behavioural researchers say that when you smile you immediately feel better! So good to see you here and sending love to you too xx
I think this is true Ruth! I use the iphone as a tool.. If I take a picture of myself once a day – even to just erase it – I ensure a daily smile ~ then they usually multiply … I think it helps! Of course some days I just can’t find a smile – but I do try no matter! Love to you dear one! ~ RL
What a great idea to take a picture like that each day! It’s good to keep the smiles up, however difficult (severe neuralgia is currently making them impossible for me, but smiles again soon I hope!) Much love to you too – we are online at the same time, across the ocean, how wonderfully uplifting. xx
Ruth,
Thanks for reminding me of the Happiness Project and the books written by Gretchen Rubin. I follow the blog by email, but haven’t really kept up. Also, I am really interested in getting the Happier at Home book. For me it seems that the everyday routine becomes routine, and I often become desensitized to the happy that’s already around me. Again thanks for the reminder not only about the great resource, but also to take another look at what’s already in front of me.
Hi Claudia, so glad you found the review useful. I really agree, the everyday can become routine and also much of the day can seem like a series of tasks which we often don’t value. Isn’t it interesting that mindfulness, so much in vogue now, and also shown to be beneficial for our wellbeing, asks us to be present in the moment and find value in these ‘small’ things. Thanks for your great comment and encouragement – I do appreciate it. 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
This is such an excellent reminder to us all to create Happiness in our existing lives… All too often we think a better job, increased income, a new home, a different location… And yet what we search for is so much simpler .. Just as you have stated here in the things this author found..
What makes me Happy!…. Family, and Nature, combining the two together makes me Happier 🙂
Wishing you a great week Ruth
~Sue xx
Hi Sue, yes, it is easy to be swept along by things that really don’t matter that much – happiness is sought by everyone but often in the wrong places. We agree about what makes us happy! Just yesterday we saw our first goldfinches on our feeder. They are such beautiful creatures and give such pleasure. Spring has definitely sprung when they appear! Take care Sue and so lovely to see you here. Wishing you a good week too, xx
This is wonderful, Ruth! I think I heard about this book briefly on NPR, but it hit home more here with your post. I’m going to look for the Happier At Home book at the library — since I work from home, I often struggle with the feeling of endless chores and monotony that can come from being both a housewife and a work-from-home mom…….it sounds like the book might help me to see things with fresh eyes. I like the idea of changing my life without changing my life……that seems within the reach of each of us, right? 🙂
Hi Angela, Yes, I do think it’s within our reach and I think that is what is so appealing about the book as most of us can’t go off travelling or totally change our life – even if we might like to sometimes 🙂 I think you’ll enjoy it – hope so! Great to see you here and thanks so much for leaving your thoughts. 🙂
Great post, Ruth. I’ve never heard of either of these books, they sound like wonderful reads. I may go and take a peak at her blog. It’s so true… “It is in cherishing the small, the everyday, the simple kindnesses, that we can feel a greater sense of happiness.” It’s often in just that ~ cherishing (and being thankful for) the simple things, that works for me.
I agree with you so much Julie and it means that ‘the small’ really isn’t that small at all! Yes, ‘cherishing’ is such a good word and being thankful and grateful – they are all practices we do so well to cultivate, thanks for mentioning them and reminding us. Your posts do that all the time with your lovely flowers and nature – that’s why I like them so much! So good to see you here Julie and glad you liked the post xx
I’ve never heard of these books Ruth, but I love how you describe the essence of them. It really is the small things in life that can make a big difference!
Hi Carolyn, yes, you’re so right, the small things are the key! Lovely to see you over here at the new site. Really appreciate your visit and comment. Hope you have a good week 🙂