Gretchen Rubin

Why being "not unhappy" is killing you

Episode #97

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Is it morally appropriate to be happy?

Yes, yes and yes! That’s a triple yes – not to be confused with a triple Claudia.

Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project, never thought about happiness. Like most of us, she took happiness for granted.

She wrote The Happiness Project because she wanted to appreciate what already made her happy. Think about it. Do you know what already makes you happy?

It’s easy to make excuses. Some people even believe it’s selfish to be happy.

This logic is backwards. “When we’re unhappy, we tend to get defensive, isolated and preoccupied with our own situation,” she says, “So, if it is selfish to be happier, which some people worry about, then we should be selfish if only for selfless reasons.”

Being happy is not just a right. It’s a responsibility.

Happy people are kinder. Happy people are more giving to others. In giving, there is altruism. And altruism bears more happiness.

Now you might be thinking, “But I’m not unhappy! How can I start a happiness project if I’m not unhappy? Don’t fall prey to this myth.

You don’t need to be unhappy to start a happiness project.

Gretchen discovered she had a “lack of appreciation” for her daily routine. “I was sort of on automatic pilot,” Gretchen says in today’s interview, “It didn’t come from a place of crisis or deep unhappiness. I was pretty happy when I started.”

If nothing was wrong with her daily routine, then why did she change it?

“I wanted to expect more from myself and I wanted to have great appreciation for what I already had,” she says.

So now we’re all on board. Now you want to start a happiness project, right? You want to be kinder, more giving to others, and grateful. You want an appreciation for what you already have. You want to be happy.

Listen to Gretchen to learn how. Her story is liberating. It will give you the freedom to choose yourself and to choose your own happiness.

Plus, you’ll hear easy steps you can take to start your happiness project today. You’re one click away from a happier life.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Specific steps you can take to be happy
  • How to appreciate what you already have
  • How to start a happiness project that works for you
  • How to create good habits and break bad habits
  • Why being “not unhappy” is killing you
  • Plus much more…

Links and Resources Mentioned In The Show:

Thanks so much for listening!

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