A happiness project

I was at the nail salon getting a pedicure -ironically, something that makes me happy- when I stumbled on an article in a magazine. The article was written by a woman who wrote the book on happiness.

No, REALLY.

Here it is.

So the premise behind this "project" was that she felt she was missing out on happiness that was available to her because she was bogged down by duty, commitments, etc.

Can you relate?

So she decided to identify things that would bring her happiness AND researched things that statistically are supposed to bring people happiness according to studies and she assigned one thing to focus on each month of the year. As an experiment.

Not only did she find more happiness in her life through the experiment. She found more happiness in her life because her book became a NYT #1 bestseller. :O)

Just Kidding....

One of the things that she discovered through her research is that there is little correlation between cash and contentment. According to a recent study in the article, there is no emotional benefit to earning more than $75,000 a year.

Interesting...

I feel like I am letting this darned chronic illness of Brent's get the best of me lately. Living sith someone who is constantly in pain and having an insurance company who doesn't want to pay for the off-label use of the drug that could cure him can wear you out. I used to be happy all the time. I was KNOWN for always having a smile on my face. But 4 1/2 years of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension affecting the person you love most in the world can have a little wear and tear on your emotional state.

So, I am embarking on a happiness project.!

I have thought of some things I might try. I made a long list.

March is exercise.

There are alot of emotional benefits to exercise.

Did you know that "For some people, exercising at high intensity three times a week for just 30 minutes at a time can provide the same benefits as some of the most powerful psychiatric medications"? The body releases a protein called "brain derived neurotrophic factor". Yoga was cited as also having additional calming (and happy-making) effects.

I stopped exercising around Christmas. I was so sick of exercising!!! Then I got sick and for a month took a long hiatus. Now, I realize that might be a factor. I used to be a die-hard worker-outer. now one of my BFFs has joined my gym and I am taking that as a sign. (Exercise is so much better with a buddy.)

Will you join me ...

and start a happiness project too?