The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

In 1820, Smith wrote a letter to an unhappy friend, Lady Morpeth, in which he offered her tips for cheering up.

I have my own variety of tips lists for cheering up, and I was interested to hear what someone from two centuries ago would recommend. Most of Smith's suggestions are as sound now as they were almost 200 years ago – though a few are amusingly odd, and it might be tougher today to work "good blazing fires" into everyday life.

“1st. Live as well as you dare.
2nd. Go into the shower-bath with a small quantity of water at a temperature low enough to give you a slight sensation of cold, 75 or 80 degrees.
3rd. Amusing books.
4th. Short views of human life—not further than dinner or tea.
5th. Be as busy as you can.
6th. See as much as you can of those friends who respect and like you.
7th. And of those acquaintances who amuse you.
8th. Make no secret of low spirits to you friends, but talk of them freely—they are always worse for dignified concealment.
9th. Attend to the effects tea and coffee produce upon you.
10th. Compare your lot with that of other people.
11th. Don’t expect too much from human life—a sorry business at the best.
12th. Avoid poetry, dramatic representations (except comedy), music, serious novels, melancholy, sentimental people, and everything likely to excite feeling or emotion, not ending in active benevolence.
13th. Do good, and endeavour to please everybody of every degree.
14th Be as much as you can in the open air without fatigue.
15th. Make the room where you commonly sit gay and pleasant.
16th. Struggle by little and little against idleness.
17th. Don’t be too severe upon yourself, or underrate yourself, but do yourself justice.
18th. Keep good blazing fires.
19th. Be firm and constant in the exercise of rational religion.
20th. Believe me, dear Lady Georgiana.”

*
A thoughtful reader sent me the link to PocketMod, which shows you how to make your own mini-personal organizer. I can't wait to try it out myself.

*
Check out my new one-minute internet movie, Secrets of Adulthood.
http://www.secretsofadulthood.com/

Butterflies in my stomach

Starting something new come 1st August. Have been having butterflies in my stomach for the last 1 week. Anticipating it because of some damn good rewards but nervous coz some additional new responsibilities.

Some short-term goals (next 6 months):-

1)Excel in this new 'venture'
2)Nest
3)Continuous elation contingent upon.....homosapiens around me

Confidence, determination, hard work and integrity.

Accepting failures or semi-failures

Procrastination is the thief of time. How well said. Life is always full of challenges. No short-cuts to success and nothing's guaranteed. One does not expect that the sail is always on calm waters without the company of fierce storms, which is highly unrealistic. One faces the reality with bravery, go through failures and knocks with integrity, and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Failures must be accepted with grace, and one has to move on with confidence and might. Sinking into "anti-elate" status is uncalled for, and it results in deteriotion of one's life, be it QoL, relationships, etc. Running away from problems is not a solution either. Proscratinating and wanting the best of both worlds are no solutions as well. Be decisive, focused, and think through carefully the consequences of the decision made. Always look at the brighter side of things. Remember, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.