February comes to a close today, as do the Olympics, so I thought it appropriate to give an update post about how my Happiness Project is coming along! I believe so strongly in the idea of a Happiness Project! I thought I’d hop up on that podium too! Go CANADA Go! I believe in the power of You and I. Everyone deserves to be happy, but you have to find that happiness in yourself.
I’m not going to lie, I have had days where I’ve cried, been angry, been sad, been unhappy. But those days seem to be fewer than I used to have, or at least it seems that way. Maybe that’s been the real truth of the Happiness Project: that I perceive myself to be happier because I’m focusing on being happier, seeing the positive instead of the negative. There’s nothing wrong with that!
I can tell you that I’ve been much happier for several reasons:
- Continuing with my fitness focus has certainly contributed to this – on those days where I’ve been upset or annoyed, I’ve realized that exercising has given me an “out” for my frustrations. I’ve just felt better after a workout. The crap just went away!
- The fitness has mostly involved going with a friend or friends. That in itself has been tremendous in affecting my happiness. Being with friends exercising made it easier and way more fun! Plus, that accountability has been there.
- I feel better physically. I’m stronger, able to go farther and sleep better because most of my days have included physical activity.
- Training for the Ride to Conquer Cancer has made me feel like I am doing something to contribute to finding a cure. I’ve heard cancer news for people I know in the past couple months. This is terrible news and frustrates me and worries me that there still isn’t a cure. But at least I feel like I am helping to find that cure, so that makes me feel better.
- Talking and reading about love this past month has affected me the most. I have explored the reasons why I love the people I love. This has made me spend time and think about them as individuals. It has forced me to stop taking them for granted.
- Writing to people like my mom and dad has made them happy. Knowing that I’ve made them happy swells my heart.
- I think writing to the people I love has resulted in making me act differently towards them. I more conscious of showing my love towards them in my actions. This has made them happier, which in turn, has made me even happier too!
- Writing about love has made me laugh, cry and just plain feel. And that has made me happier than I’ve ever been.
Start your own Happiness Project! It’s a lot of fun and it really works!!
Next month’s focus will be: A Cleaner House – now, that is going to be tough for me! I’ll need lots of encouragement! I am not known for a tidy house, but it sure does make me feel better when it is!
Cafe Cevraini 
Shawna, I’m so glad your happiness project has given you so many benefits this month. I am especially interested in the connection between your physical fitness and your happiness. Mindful exercise is decidedly absent from my life right now and I wish it weren’t. I am grateful, then, for this reminder of the connection between exercise and happiness.
Kristen, don’t worry about specific, mindful exercise. Focus on a little bit at a time. That might be rough-housing with your boys, running up the stairs with the laundry, parking at a far away stall at the grocery store, or stretching for 5 minutes when you wake up in the morning. Every little bit counts in my book! Each day will get a little easier to find a few minutes for you. A few minutes will turn into 15, then 30, then an hour. You will be addicted, trust me!
Friends help with the encouragement and accountability too! Give it a try today! Just 5 minutes for today. That’s 5 minutes more than yesterday! Focus on the positive and having FUN! 🙂