Welcome to our 8th month of The Happiness Project. This month's theme is: Contemplate the Heavens. Corresponding reading pgs: 194-220.
This week's resolution is: Keep a Gratitude Notebook. Corresponding reading pgs: 202-206.
Not having a religious background, Gretchen thought it was time to challenge herself in her beliefs and to contemplate the spiritual side of life.
She says: "I'd come to see that spiritual states- such as elevation, awe, gratitude, mindfulness, and contemplation of death-are essential to happiness."
Gretchen came to realize that not facing a catastrophe made her extremly grateful. She wanted to record these thoughts in a notebook.
For ex: Her husband has a health issue. On a checkup he came home and reported: No change. Usually this would drive Gretchen crazy because she would want more details. But now, she decided to be grateful because: No news meant good news.
Gretchen's notebook also helped her to not take things for granted.
Surprisingly, after a couple of weeks Gretchen noticed the notebook wasn't working so she tried other ways to be in a grateful frame of mind.
One strategy she used was to have grateful thoughts as she waited for something- the bus, or her computer to boot up.
Another strategy she used was following her third commandment which was: "Act the way I want to feel."
You have to read to the end of this section to see the adorable thing her daughter says.
This week's thought: Gratitude brings freedom from envy, because when you're grateful for what you have, you're not consumed with wanting something different or something more.
This week's Resolution: Keep a Gratitude notebook. Or: Figure out ways to be in a more grateful state of mind.
Share your journey, thoughts here this week.
This week's resolution is: Keep a Gratitude Notebook. Corresponding reading pgs: 202-206.
Not having a religious background, Gretchen thought it was time to challenge herself in her beliefs and to contemplate the spiritual side of life.
She says: "I'd come to see that spiritual states- such as elevation, awe, gratitude, mindfulness, and contemplation of death-are essential to happiness."
Gretchen came to realize that not facing a catastrophe made her extremly grateful. She wanted to record these thoughts in a notebook.
For ex: Her husband has a health issue. On a checkup he came home and reported: No change. Usually this would drive Gretchen crazy because she would want more details. But now, she decided to be grateful because: No news meant good news.
Gretchen's notebook also helped her to not take things for granted.
Surprisingly, after a couple of weeks Gretchen noticed the notebook wasn't working so she tried other ways to be in a grateful frame of mind.
One strategy she used was to have grateful thoughts as she waited for something- the bus, or her computer to boot up.
Another strategy she used was following her third commandment which was: "Act the way I want to feel."
You have to read to the end of this section to see the adorable thing her daughter says.
This week's thought: Gratitude brings freedom from envy, because when you're grateful for what you have, you're not consumed with wanting something different or something more.
This week's Resolution: Keep a Gratitude notebook. Or: Figure out ways to be in a more grateful state of mind.
Share your journey, thoughts here this week.