I have gotten a few questions in the last month around the Happiness Project I designed for myself back in November. Below are my answers:
Are you Happier?
I would say the answer is not reallyL It did not work out as well for me as I had hoped it would.
Doing the plan was a GREAT exercise as it was the first time I actually took a number of hours and sat down to analyze what would make me happy (vs. the millions of hours I spend planning what would be good for my life).
I had never taken the time to consider happiness from this angle-so I liked this part a lot.
But-are the things I have put into place actually me making me feel happier? I would say likely not.
Status quo so far.
What were some of the elements of your Happiness Project and how are you doing in these areas?
I had about 4 main buckets with many sub element but the four main components (without getting into any specifics) are:
Overall Health and Beauty
Reading/Writing and Creativity
Strengthening Relationships
Order
Health
I would say in this area I have come the longest way. Since I committed-my views of eating, exercising etc…have changed considerably. For the first time in my life I think I am following intuition when it comes to these areas and it seems to be working out for me. No concrete results yet, but a lot of little successes and wins and a massive change in my paradigm of thinking. Also have changed the reasons why I want to be healthy and eat well and exercise lots.
In terms of beauty I have always been a very non complicated type of person and literally take about 10 minutes to get ready in the morning (with a shower). I buy good clothes and accessories; and put some energy into this, but my actual beauty routine is very quick and simple and always really rushed. My intent was to focus more on this and put more effort daily, but have realized I have no time for this or energy and does not really make me happier. So pretty much decided to continue more in the “au natural” route…
Reading/Writing and Creativity
I became much more deliberate so I think in this category actually much happier. I make more conscious time to read and write and feel sick to my stomach if I don’t have a good book by my bedside or time to write a quick blog. So going well and happier in this area.
Strengthening Relationships
The things I committed to that I think will make me happier I have not been too good at doing (so far).
I find often I want or need more from people than they may need from me in terms of close relationships. I am a very intimate person in a lot of ways and expect the same from others who are really close. My way of dealing with this over the years has changed…I used to try and change it and others, but more often than not now I tend to accept it but in turn get more distanced myself in some ways and check out instead of in on some levels if that makes sense?
It is still a theme for me and still figuring it out.
Order
It has been a flop. I told myself by the end of March 2012 my house would be unrecognizable and fully in order..and I have not even tackled a closet I am sad to say. I guess health, relationships and writing have been more prioritized! Also I think my standards are pretty high. Most people might say that my house is super organized (until they open a closet or ask me to cook a chicken and I have no clue where a pan is kept)
I am one of the most orderly people I know when it comes to lists, planning, agendas, strategic planning etc.. but extremely disorganized when it comes to having my jewelry in an organized box, my clothes not thrown on the bathtub, and my desk everyday being splattered with millions of papers (I hide it all very well but it is the reality).
Have not made much progress.
So the answers are "no not much happier overall", but maybe I have always been happy? Maybe I was not unhappy to begin with so hard to measure? It is fun to look back and report out because it makes me realize that there are some elements that have made me happier for sure and I am very glad I took this project on.
Like with any project however it is the work you put in that yields results and although I was very committed at first, I have not been systematic about weekly updates etc.. so it is no surprise that I have not succeeded in all areas.
For the moment I remain a hyper -organized girl with a whole lot of chaos going on in the closets, simple and messy ponytails and lip-gloss most days of the week, with a desire for more belts, accessories and put together looks at an age in my life where I can still pull it off, a whole lot of creativity in these bones that I sometimes don’t know what to do with and to which this blog has been instrumental, and often feel like I am running after people close to me in hopes that they will fulfill a void that is there for me that has not yet been filled, but that I am keenly aware needs fuel.
In summary-just as the title of this blog suggests:
I am still searching.
