Project 2020: Why I’m Committing to My Own Happiness Project
The Happiness Project was created by author Gretchen Rubin as a way to celebrate life now, as it is. It was a protection system against one day looking back and thinking the thought, how happy I was then, if only I had known it. It was also a way to build up happiness before any kind of catastrophe could hit.
Life can change dramatically within minutes. At any time we could get life altering news- a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal disease, our job is getting downsized, or our best friend is moving away. These are not the only things that can happen, but they are a few examples of how life changes in a matter of minutes. It’s good to not take life for granted.
I found The Happiness Project almost by error. In August of last year, I had been reading Better Than Before (also by Rubin). I admire her writing as it mixes both facts and research with her personal story. I had found her Happier at Home book while browsing the audio books at the largest library in my city. That’s where I first came across the Happiness Project book and challenge.
After reading the actual book The Happiness Challenge (for my own research), I’ve realized that my life looks nothing like hers. I’m a single girl in her early 30s, a caregiver to my mom, still searching for my dream job, and still figuring out my place. I also live with depression and anxiety. For me, the happiness project means not only working to cultivate happiness in different aspects of my life, but also figuring out new ways to cope with on-going complicated mental health.
In fact, the only thing that resembles Rubin’s goal is that I do want to (also) not take things for granted. Even the mundane things like a Friday night with my mom eating Red Baron’s pizza and watching another episode of Ghost Whisperer. I need to remind myself that even the things we consider small (also) have an expiration date.
The desire to undertake this particular challenge also stems from the fact that I believe that self-care and taking the time to ensure your happiness has a direct effect on how well you can care for and bring happiness to others. If I’m miserable but trying to make you happy, my personal mood will affect what I’m trying to do. If I’m happy, it’s easier to at least try to bring your spirits up, if you’re willing.
“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.” — Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project
We are each responsible for our own happiness first and foremost. Even though we might not get credit for being happy and being able to lift others up, it’s important to put our own care masks on before assisting others.
“Contemporary research shows that happy people are more altruistic, more productive, more helpful, more likable, more creative, more resilient, more interested in others, friendlier, and healthier. Happy people make better friends, colleagues, and citizens.” — Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project
Happiness evades every area of our lives. Therefore, it’s important to keep the areas we want to see change in forefront in mind while creating. Each happiness project will look different.
Different things are important to different people. It’s important in a challenge like this that we acknowledge the areas that work for us or that we want to see more happiness as a result and in the aspect itself.
For me, the happiness project is going to span 14 months, not 12. I don’t believe in waiting for January 1st to start a new project. The project follows the guidelines of Rubin’s project: a monthly focus and a few small resolutions.
Each year breaks down into monthly themes and resolutions or focuses. Seemingly like main goal and minor goals. My monthly themes (some of which are borrowed from Rubin’s with some differences and might be different from yours) fall into the categories of: creativity (November), Clean Slate (December), Energy (January), Routines (February), Time (March), Work (April), Lighten Up (May), Giving (June), Attitude (July), Eternity (August), Money (September), Mindfulness (October), Friendship (November) and Bootcamp (December).
That gives a month to focus on a word or theme for a smaller time frame than a word of the year would and allows and encourages constant growth and change. So if committing to a word of the year feels like an eternity, what about trying for a month?
I’ve also realized that this can be a project that fits around your life. There may be months of more intense focus (like this month for creativity, I’m writing more poetry, doing NaNoWriMo, capturing a daily photo on IG and taking an on-line photography class). However, there are also months where some of the smaller changes can be accomplished in smaller time frames.
At the end of the day, this project has the potential for so many benefits. Even if only three new ways to enjoy the present on an ongoing basis are created, isn’t that worth a year to figure out?
