Ideas from The Happiness Project

I liked The happiness Project. It is one of a few books which made me reflect and helped me grow. It is a good read with several interesting ideas. Following are some which I found appealing 

• take time for happiness by not making life an efficient project  Often times we rush through life. Whether it is the time when kids are getting ready for school, doing household chores, planning for an event eg birthday parties or any parties, vacation etc. It is ok to waste time and let kids and yourself "waste" time by not focusing on the task at hand. 

• we are happy when we "grow". When we buy a new car, house or get a promotion etc, we are actually growing. However after some times we get acclimatized in that environment and the happiness feeling wears off because we are not growing. Learning new things, whether it is a new language, learning to use new activities eg skating, snowboarding, roller blading etc, can actually enhance happiness as it leads to growth as long as the goals are something that we consider worthwhile

• Anticipation of a happy event creates more happiness than the actual event itself. For example, if you are planning for a vacation, you likely will have more pleasure and happiness as you go through the steps of choosing where to go, deciding about which activities to do during the vacation, even packing for the vacation then the actual event itself. In other words,dwell on the happy moments
• Just like you have more fun planning ahead for happy events, you get more currency when you reflect over it.  Happy memories bring happiness even after the event has ended. Similarly, when you think about an unhappy event, you are effectively living it again. Avoid that

• There are four stages for enjoying a happy event:

1. anticipation 
2. savoring 
3. expression
4. reflection 

Other ideas - though not really unique

• look at each day as a bonus and cherish it. Instead of taking it for granted that you have a "normal" day, consider the fact that you have got an extra day to live, enjoy

• instead of having new year resolutions for the entire year, it is better to have new year's resolution which are short term. For example instead of having 12 resolutions which you want to accomplish in a year, you will be more successful if you have 1 resolution for each month. Also make these resolutions very visible.