This is one in a series of monthly articles from Gretchen Rubin’s book: The Happiness Project.
September Happiness Project is to Pursue a Passion: A look at one person’s passion worth pursuing to create happiness. Keep on reading to find some interesting thoughts and answers from Gretchen Rubin.
My chief resolution for the month was to ‘Pursue a passion,” which in my case meant everthing related to books. … Not everyone shares my particular passion, fo course … But whatever your passion might be, happiness research predicts that making time for a passion and treating it as a real priority instead of the’extra’ to be fitted in at a free moment will bring a tremendous happiness boost.
Gretchen picked some areas where she wanted to pursue more of her passions to create happiness. I am paraphrasing them here:
- Write a novel. Okay, most of us would not consider this task a passion to pursue. The idea is to find that big project you’ve been wanting to work on and make it a priority instead of an activity to engage in when you find the time. (Actually, when I first read this section, it reminded me of the boat Special Agent Gibbs from NCIS was always building!)
- Make time. Seemingly, we are always complaining that we don’t have time to do this or that thing that we love. Stop doing that and make time to pursue your passion. Permit yourself to do what you love. Whether it be something small or large, make time regularly to work towards your passion.
- Forget about results. It is in the doing that we find happiness. Just as Special Agent Gibbs from NCIS was never concerned about how he was going to get his finished boat out of the basement, neither should we dwell on elaborate plans and results of pursuing our passion. Just work on your project when you get the urge.
- Master a new technology. This is not necessarily just computer technology, but any new technical task. Learn to use your phone more effectively, as an example. The challenge of mastering a task, like learning new technology, will give you great satisfaction.
Gretchen and I have something in common with our passion: Reading and writing. I have spent hours working on several digital books and programs. I love reading, researching and writing about spiritual principles in courses and eguides. My current prayer project is finally ready to launch next week. If you want to one of the first to sign up for my new prayer program, which includes a free 8 part mini-ecourse, click here to fill out the subscription form.
Along with developing these programs, I learned to take the time to do them. I also needed to stop worrying about the results (a difficult thing for me to do!). And of course, in the process, I master several new software programs.
Gretchen makes one closing statement on pursuing happiness that I felt was profound: “You’re not happy until you think you’re happy.” Join me this month in deciding we are happy!