Review & Giveaway: The Happiness Project

Need some inspiration for your New Year’s Resolutions? Instead of the same old “lose weight” or “eat healthy”, you might try setting a broader goal such as the one Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
did. She chose to be happier and she documented her efforts over a period of one year. This year she is challenging everyone to join in on her 2010 Year of Happiness Challenge. The areas of focus will be:

• January–Body
• February–Love
• March–Work
• April–Money
• May–Mindfulness
• June–Order
• July–Spirit
• August–Fun
• September–Parenthood
• October–Friends
• November–Attitude
• December–Boot Camp Perfect

Four times per month on Happiness-Project.com she will suggest concrete, manageable resolutions to help you boost your happiness along with reminders to help you stick to your goals on her blog.

In her book, Gretchen lays out goals in chapters- one for each month of the year following a focus in a particular area in her life similar to the ones listed above. In addition to her personal stories about how she worked at her goals, she provides facts she discovered on how certain behaviors affect happiness. She really digs deep into social perceptions, the definition of happiness, and expert opinions based on studies and more.

I’ll admit, I haven’t read the entire book. It’s next to my bed and I try to read a little each night. I’ve just gotten to April: Lighten Up (Parenthood) and I am really anxious to read it. This is probably the area I need the most work (two year old boys are frustrating!). The neat thing about this book is that you don’t really have to read it cover to cover. Since I only work part time at a daycare, I just skimmed the work chapter. I really liked the marriage chapter and gained a lot from it. I could really relate to many of the things she covered in this chapter and I’ve taken some pointers from her experience and am trying to implement them in my own life:

• Quit nagging
• Don’t expect praise or appreciation
• Fight right
• No dumping
• Give proofs of love

Gretchen’s self proclaimed “need for gold stars” got me thinking about how I always feel the need to explain to my husband how much I am doing around the house etc. I guess I was looking for a gold star myself. It’s funny though, because I have actually blamed HIM for always needing a gold star. She explains that if you get yourself in the frame of mind that you are keeping the house clean for yourself, for example, and not doing it for your husband, you will become less sulky when you don’t get the praise you deserve. Rather, you will feel good for accomplishing something you set out to do for yourself. Some of the topics that are brought up in this book really shed some light and get you thinking about how you live your life and what you can do to improve it.

I am really enjoying this book and while I don’t think I will be starting a happiness project of my own, I am gleaning some valuable insights on how to live happier. The book is inspiring- it makes you want to take charge of your own happiness- and there are plenty of ways to do just that.

Resolving to live a happier life is such a positive goal and one anyone could make- who doesn’t want to be happier? Here’s to happiness in 2010!

The Happiness Project is available on Amazon.com for $15.20 and is available for free super saver shipping.

Enter to win a copy of The Happiness Project by filling out the form below. Also, be sure to check out all of our other giveaways here.

A complimentary product/service was provided for this review however all opinions expressed are our own. We were not compensated in any other way for this review. See Mommies with Cents disclosure policy for more details.

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