All from the book: - The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
What activities bring the most happiness? (page 134)
Fun falls into 3 categories:- Challenging fun is the most rewarding but also the most demanding. It involves hard work – errands, time and energy.. But usually in the end the most satisfying.
- Less challenging but still requiring effort is accommodating fun. A trip to the playground – something you do because others want to do it. A family holiday dinner, etc. Strengthens relationship, builds memories
- Relaxing fun is easy. Watching tv, etc.
Research shows that challenging fun and accommodating fun, over the
long term, bring more happiness, because they are sources of the elements that
make people happiest: strong person
bonds, mastery, and atmosphere of growth.
Relaxing fun tends to be passive—by design. So why is watching tv so popular? Because although we get more out of the other
fun we much also put more into it.
“Look for happiness under your own roof.”
(Artwork: Elvie Studio)
“[S]tudies show that one of the best ways to lift your mood is to engineer an easy success, such as tackling a long-delayed chore.”
Happiness (positive attitude) takes effort
“The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.”Making yourself...and others...happy!
“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.”One day, you'll laugh at this!
“The things that go wrong often make the best memories.”The grass is greener....
“Look for happiness under your own roof.”
(Artwork: Elvie Studio)
Enjoy Now!
“When I find myself focusing overmuch on the anticipated future happiness of arriving at a certain goal, I remind myself to 'Enjoy now'. If I can enjoy the present, I don't need to count on the happiness that is (or isn't) waiting for me in the future".”To growl or not to growl
“Studies show that aggressively expressing anger doesn't relieve anger but amplifies it. On the other hand, not expressing anger often allows it to disappear without leaving ugly traces.”Get something done!
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