31 Days of...

Several months ago, on a whim, I purchased a book titled The Happiness Project..., by Gretchen Rubens.  With each page, I found myself intrigued and inspired by what she did.  Gretchen, a self-proclaimed generally happy person, decided to challenge herself for one year to discover if greater happiness was something that she could generate for herself.  Each month she set different resolutions, researched those resolutions and determined to live them. 

 

Perhaps you can relate to the over-zealous jotting down of goals at the beginning of the year: lose weight, try something new, pay off debt, blah blah blah.  Well you are not alone, my friend.  Most of us know that lasts about a month, maybe two if we're lucky.  Generally, these goals are forgetten and we continue living out our days just as we always have.  Well, NOT THIS YEAR!  As Gretchen shares in The Happiness Project, "you hit a goal, you keep a resolution," and that is what I intend to do.

Last week I turned 31 and I decided that this year is going to be a year of growth, self-discovery and self-improvement.  I know what you are thinking, "uh, you're 31...shouldn't you have already discovered yourself?"  To you I say,"Well sure," but we can always challenge ourselves to discover something within us that we never thought was there.  What I want to find out is how making a concentrated effort on fulfilling my personal resolutions over the next year can bring me greater happiness.

 

For my 31st year of life, I intend to concentrate on one resolution, 31 days at a time and to track my progress using this blog.  I've thought out the next 6 months.  They will be as follows:

• September:  Physical - 31 days of Bikram Yoga and Paleo eating
• October:     Financial - 31 days of no spending, apart from life necessities (rent, utilities, groceries, gas, etc.) 
• November:   Service - 31 days of  at least one random acts of kindness per day
• December:   Spiritual -  31 days of temple attendance and studing attributes of Jesus Christ
• January:      Mental -  31 days of homework and concentration on school (this month will mark the epic return to complete my Bachelor's degree; only 5 classes to go!)
• February:     Relationships - 31 days of focusing on how relationships are formed and how to strengthen them.  I plan to read a lot on this subject and put into practice what I learn as much as I can.

I will not be able to complete some of these resolutions every day during their 31 days because of one thing or another, but during those 31 days, each resolution will be my focus.

 

My personal challenge certainly won't be as researched and detailed as Gretchen's.  I mean, heck, she wrote an entire book about it.  I just intend to write a blog, that generates traffic or not, that will help me hold myself accountable and maybe inspire someone else to take on their own personal challenge of self discovery and growth.  I guess in the end the worst that could happen is that we all become generally happier.  :)

 

Here's to Happiness!

 

Have you found that by keeping your resolutions you are a happier person?  I'd love to hear your experiences!