I try to find time to change my life, almost all the time, to make me happier. Doing it once a year at New Year is weird to me – I think it’s a constant point of review in my life.

Can’t wait to read the book

I’m looking forward to this book as I feel that in all the uncluttering and organizing we do, we must find the driving motivation, as you pointed out.

Part of my January will go into re-assessing and re-aligning my current life (job, education, family, friends, AND pose§ssions) with my goals and values. It’s worth investing the time in doing this.

I’m looking forward to this book as I feel that in all the uncluttering and organizing we do, we must find the driving motivation, as you pointed out.

Part of my January will go into re-assessing and re-aligning my current life (job, education, family, friends, AND posessions) with my goals and values. It’s worth investing the time in doing this.

I’ve commented on Gretchen’s posts on my blog as well. She has the ability, with her posts, to remind me not to get bogged down with the little things in life, but to incorporate what has true meaning, “happiness”, into my everyday living.

I appreciate her insight, will purchase her book, and will continue to use her advice in my own life.

Thanks Gretchen! And thanks Erin for introducing other people to The Happiness Project!

I think you’ll like Gretchen’s approach, based on what you wrote. I haven’t read the book, but I follow her site. I heard about it here or read about Unclutterer there – can’t remember which. But one of her 12 Personal Commandments is “Enjoy the Process.” Basically dealing all of the things you mentioned in your comment.

Erin – Thank you for the review. I’m anxious to check out the book. I think it will be a good companion to yours, which I devoured and now need to go back through and start implementing the ideas.

The Amazon.com description makes it seem as if the book is about more than “being happy.” Improving the quality of one’s life through conscious choice. Always worth the time. B

Have to say that personally, am more than a little turned off these days by the number of books, articles, etc. about being happy. Because I really do believe this is a byproduct of conscious living. Not the actual goal/objective.

The “happiest” person I know is someone who never thinks about it but who lives a life in harmony with who they are and who they value.

Had to laugh about the author’s experience with a gratitude journal. It’s something I’ve heard from other people and as one friend put it, “It’s possible to be extremely grateful and, at the same time, very angry, frustrated and crazed. So being grateful isn’t going to make life easier or make you feel better.”

I sometimes think that many people are “unhappy” whether in general or say in a relationship due to unrealistic expectations. It’s like people who say they want to have “fun” at work. Well, work by its nature is not inherently “fun” at least the way some of us define it. That applies to work we even may love or enjoy or get great satisfaction from.

As humans we often seem so focused on a goal, whether happiness or something else, that we miss the “process”, the “now” as it were. If you look at folks who really seem to enjoy all of their life, they enjoy the process, no matter what it brings.

Whic h reminds me of decluttering. It may indeed be a daily and ongoing process, with no “end” in site. There is no perfect home, especially if humans and pets are involved. yet so many folks still keep trying for the magazine-perfect abode. Not gonna happen.

Some of the “happiest” people I know have somewhat chaotic (to me) lives, messy homes and less-than-perfect anything. But they are flexible, open to life, accepting of the mess of it at times and able to enjoy themselves even when stuff is less than perfect.

That’s more in line with my goals for the next year. To not let what isn’t (whether it’s a cluttered room or a less than perfect meal, etc) get in the way of enjoying what is. Accepting that even in a moment where life is tough, it can also have some joy and fun. That they aren’t mutually exclusive. Most of all, I’m not gonna worry about being “happy.” whatever that means, cause I still don’t know what it’s supposed to mean!