Did you know that by the year 2020, the number one disability in the United States will be depression? Did you also know that in just the last five years, a new type of psychology, "positive psychology", has formed? There's even an entire section of the Psychology Today's website dedicated to happiness. America is constantly attempting to find happiness in what appears to be a work-a-holic, money-hungry country.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have written "THE bucket list". My hopes are to always strive to get out of my comfort zone, to try new adventures, and to make my life something memorable because I believe that those things will ultimately bring some more happiness. One of the first items to get crossed off will be my Happiness Project.
A Happiness Project is an approach to changing your life (sounds drastic, I know). But ultimately, you identify the things that make you the happiest and that bring you the most satisfaction. Gretchin Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, spent one year improving her life in the slightest ways. Each month, she'd attempt new challenges. Did you know it only takes 30 days for something to become a habit? She spent each month working on small challenges such as: Boosting energy, remembering love, aiming higher for goals, lightening up, being serious about play, making time for friends, pursuing a passion and paying attention to life. Some of her challenges were large, others were small. From making her bed everyday to writing a novel, her goals and dreams for this one year were numerous.
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One of my bucket list items that I believe will go hand-in-hand with my happiness project is the goal to write down 5 things everyday that I am grateful for for one year. Today, I got a journal from Barnes and Noble and started. Today's top 5?
- Lunch with my parents
- Sweet customers who were patient while I learned the cash register (Math is not my strong point)
- Watching the sun set in Chapel Hill while I exercised
- Good music while I worked-- How catchy is this?
- My new TED talk application on my phone that lets me listen to talks no matter where I am-- (even while I'm exercising!)
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To begin my Happiness Project, I guess it would be best to determine some things that make me incredibly happy. There's a lot more, but here's a little snapshot: Extra Sprinkles. "Friend Dates". Feeling inspired. Crafts. Baking. New clothes. Exercising. Old black-n-white photos. Photography. Being outdoors. Sunsets. Beach. Family. Children. Mountains. Driving. Good movies. Good conversations. Handwritten mail. Traveling. Quotes. Writing. Contemplating. Possibilities.
There will be much more about this Happiness Project throughout the next year. Stay Tuned.
Or begin your own.
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This past Friday I went to the N.C. Botanical Gardens with my friend, Alison. Friends + Good Food + Photos = Great. So much happy. And I got to cross off something else from my senior bucket list.
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| Please, try to say "Carnivorous Plant" and not laugh. Seriously. I ended up being a 3-year-old and sticking other leaves in the Venus Fly Traps "mouth" to get it to close. So interesting. #nerdy |
What makes you happy? What makes your "top 5" grateful list today?
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it,
strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the
world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the
manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a
state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You
must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness
forever, to stay afloat on top of it.”
--Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat. Pray. Love.
--Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat. Pray. Love.
Always,
Carrie
Carrie
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