The Happiness Project

I recently started reading “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin, and realized that the last two years of my own life I have been experimenting with the pursuit of happiness. 

If you met me two years ago, you would have seen a woman who was sleeping through her own life, watching it completely pass her by.  I was taught to go to University, get a good job, get a promotion, buy a house, get married, have children, and these are the necessary steps to take in living a “good life”.  However, these steps made me miserable, unhappy, and literally panicked with where my life wasn’t going. 

I was at the point in my life where I was dragging myself out of bed at 6am, and racing to beat the clock.  I was always worried to be in trouble if I was late, or I would be judged by others that I wasn’t at my desk 15 minutes early.  I would sit in my little cubicle, stuffing my face with toxic food and watching my waste line grow, while I would listen to employees complain about their job, the company, the boss and everything and anything.  By 5pm I was defeated and once again running to beat the clock and the Go Train home. 

Every day was the same tired business or working for a “good life”.  At the end of the day I would be so exhausted from accomplishing nothing that matter to me that I would resort to my lululemons, carbohydrates and my big comfy couch.  My motivation to do anything outside of my job was completely gone, and my attitude showed it.  And then the clock would hit 6am and it was time to do it all over again.

I finally said enough was enough.

Now I work for myself as Mortgage Specialist, actually making a difference in people’s life.  I can see how my work is actively affecting others, and I receive my own gratification on a daily basis.  I finally woke up from my life, and stopped watching it pass me by – it is such a small change but has made the most profound impact on my life and the relationships I share with others.  I have the time and energy to focus a part of my life to my passions, like coaching figure skating and synchronized skating teams.  I do not feel badly for taking time out of my day to give back and volunteer for great causes in my community like the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Party in Pink and Burlington City Rep Hockey.

When you discover what you are passionate about, you will find that your life will be much more successful in the pursuit of happiness.  

In my Happiness Project, it wasn’t about how much money I earned, it was about finding that “work – life balance” that you hear people talk about.  In following my passions and by taking the risk of giving up my corporate

Bay St

job, I have become richer in motivation then I could have ever imagined. I just have a life balance.

The following are a couple of things in the Happiness Project book by Gretchen Rubin that she decides to follow each month in order to create her own Happiness.  I decided that I would follow them as well. 

  

January

-         Go to sleep earlier

-         Exercise better

-         Toss, restore, organize

-         Tackle a nagging task

-         Act more energetic

Going to sleep earlier is something I am still working on, however toss, restore, and organize was an absolutely amazing cleansing for the soul activity.  As Spring approaches, I encourage everyone to take a Sunday to tackle your office, your bedroom or any room that has been piling up!

February

-         Quit nagging

-         Don’t expect praise or appreciation

-         Fight Right

-         No dumping

-         Give proofs of love

As a woman, to quit nagging is like asking me to go out in public without my make up on.  However, I focused a lot of my energy on thinking about “how I said things”, rather then just blurting out comments.  This has also helped me in the fight right task too!

March

-         Launch a blog

-         Enjoy the fun of failure

-         Ask for help

-         Work smart

-         Enjoy now

Well if you are reading this, then you know I have launched a Blog!  I am trying to spend each day working smarter, and asking for help when I need it.  I tend to try and believe I am superwoman who can get the household duties completed, life duties, family duties and work duties all done in one day.  I have realized my husband does like helping me, and he feels good about taking care of me.  So asking for help once and a while is good for both of us!

What is your Happiness Project? 

Ask yourself how do you measure success?  Is it to be rich with money, or rich in life?

"These opinions are entirely my own and do not represent TD's position, strategies or opinions".