A Life You Love

"Of course it's not enough to sit around wanting to be happy; you must make the effort to take steps towards happiness by acting with more love, finding work you enjoy, and all the rest. But for me, asking myself whether I was happy had been a crucial step toward cultivating my happiness more wisely through my actions. Also, only through recognizing my happiness did I really appreciate it. Happiness depends partly on external circumstances, and it also depends on how you view those circumstances." 

- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

A good friend and colleague of mine gave me this book to read towards the beginning of this year. She realized that I was on a quest to embrace life and to make the most of my current situations. I still haven't finished it. It is too good to rush through. Above all, it has taught me that we are in control of our own states of happiness. Although circumstances may be uncontrollable, there are endless ways that we can influence the way that we feel and it is up to us to make those things happen. Although I don't have quite the structure that she does, my happiness project has been fun. 

Self-discovery is endless but sometimes, it takes us far too long to take those first steps. The only thing waiting is happiness...go for it. Do more of what makes you smile, only surround yourself with people who serve you in some way, pour a glass of wine, and never stop asking yourself if you are actually happy. Small adjustments (for me - new picture frames, new candles, a glimpse of the ocean, skyping with friends/family, exercising, asking for what I need, spending time at Starbucks, shared experiences) help to create new habits and attitudes which eventually transform a semi-happy life, to an abundantly happy life. 

Hint: first stop...pick up a copy of the book :)