“Someone Is Staring At You From Personal Growth”

I could say that I’ve been reading Happier by Harvard Prof. Tal Ben-Shahar, but it is probably more accurate to say that I’ve been studying this book. Slowly and in intervals, but studying nonetheless between a marathon-esque schedule these days. The past few months, who am I kidding, years, I’m either in a deposition, driving across the state to a deposition or preparing for a deposition. I don’t stay over night when possible so that I can get home before my daughter does so that her routine stays the same, but that means leaving very early a lot. It’s hard any way you cut it. At home, it’s triage. At work, it’s triage. The photography has been a great stress reliever, but I’ve put too much pressure on myself to edit quickly at the expense of sleep. Balance was to be my word for 2009 and yet, I keep losing mine.

Hence the trip {forgive the pun} down the self-help aisle for Happier. I have no shame in admitting that I find great ideas and comfort in books and that good self-help can do just that. Sure, I have my pet peeves about certain self-help publishers. For example, why do some of them use childlike fonts or bullet points stretching what could be a short magazine article into 150 pages. Cathy Black’s Basic Black is the exception to this rule. Weird fonts and bullet points, but still worth a damn. {My favorite advice from her book which I really needed to hear, “don’t become best supporting actress to someone else’s drama.” If only we could anthologize self-help for the best sections from each one.} And why do some of them spend the first half of the book trying to sell you on a concept you have already purchased? This I do not understand. But every once in a while, I’ll find one that makes me sit up and reach for a highlighter.

My copy of Happier is practically glowing from the highlighting and it has inspired me to put together a Required Reading for Human Beings list, sort of like The Missing Iphone Manual for humans. I’ve done years of research on the best self-help books available. Why not put this otherwise useless trivia to work. I’m no expert on how to be, but I can tell you that of the books out there giving advice, Happier is the perfect jumping off point. The concept? Harvard’s most popular class on positive psychology. My favorite activity from the book: think of things you love to do. Then create a daily ritual incorporating at least one of those things, just like brushing your teeth. Make a habit out of things you love. Even if it’s just one thing. Just for you.

What will your one thing be?