Monthly Archives: January 2009

I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in — no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project. Everyone says, and it’s true, that one of the most … →

During my study of happiness, I’ve noticed that I often learn more from one person’s highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do from sources that detail universal principles or cite up-to-date studies. So from time to time, I post short interviews with interesting people about their insights on happiness. One of my happiness-project resolutions is to “Bring people together,” and I … →

Every Wednesday is Tip Day. This Wednesday: Eight tips for dealing with criticism. I have a very hard time being criticized, corrected, or accused – even of the smallest mistakes – and I react very angrily. I’ve wrestled this instinct under control in a professional context, more or less, but I have more trouble with it at home. All it … →

Holy cow! I’ve been scrambling to meet an editing deadine for my book, so for once I haven’t been obsessively checking my blog every few hours – and controversy erupts. I’m very sorry that I seemed to be ignoring commenters. Never again will I allow myself to disengage this way, even overnight. Let me explain what happened. After a post … →

One of my happiness-project resolutions is “Learn how to do something new,” and I’ve had several readers email me to ask about RSS and Feedblitz updates. As happiness experts explain, “learning something new” is an excellent way of boosting happiness – though it usually means an uncomfortable period of frustration and discouragement, too. If you’re in the mood to “learn … →

This is the third time in a row that I’ve included a long quotation from Christopher Alexander as my weekly quotation. Last time, I promise! Here, Alexander is talking about architecture, but I think it’s fascinating to think about his point in relationship to the elements of a happy life. * But then I read a passage in an ancient … →

I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in — no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project. A new year has just begun, the traditional time to … →

From articles in the New York Times today, Alex Williams’s New Year, New You? Nice Try and Ken Belson’s As Resolutions Go, Spending Less May Actually Stick, I gleaned some statistics about resolutions-keeping: —According to one survey, the top three resolutions made by Americans in 2009 are: 1. Losing weight — 20% 2. Quitting smoking — 16% 3. Spending less … →