I just love how thoughts sometimes piggyback off of something I'm reading. The current book I am trying to conquer is "The Happiness Project". This books is about author Gretchin Rubin's year of exploration into what would make her more happy. She comes up with some COMMANDMENTS.... They seem to 12 things she either knows she needs to work on or doesn't want to lose in the process of becoming happy. I think it would be beneficial for everyone once in a while to do a self analysis. A few things on my list (some coincide with hers) Be myself - I have never been big on being anyone else. I like to falsely think I am original. Rubin put down on her list to #9 lighten up. Mine would read most like Don't be a complete jerk. But knowing that is something I need to work on doesn't make it any easier. Yes I think I would be more happy if I wasn't a jerk to my wife and boys. I think their life would be more happy also.
Later on in the book she mentions a business school mantra one which I was unfamiliar with. "You Manage what you measure". This has taken me a few days to really absorb the depth of this statement. Not that I don't understand it but I want to see how I can apply it to my life. So I want to lose weight (there's something to measure) If I want to not be a jerk to my family, maybe I can measure the amount of days in a row that I succeed in not being a jerk.
But is there a way to measure everything in life? And if I started to use this technique would I become a better happier person or would I just run through life as a game? This is a balancing act. Does life change come from doing the right thing even if it is not what you truly want to do? Can you create a habit of doing the right thing?
