I’m right smack in the middle of my manuscript for my new book, Happy Women Live Better: 13 Ways to Trigger Your Happiness Every Day (coming October 1st!). I’m quite excited about it sharing little pieces from the book with you. With women’s happiness declining while men’s happiness continues to climb, women need to be more intentional than ever about doing things that boost how they feel about life. I’ve identified 13 happiness triggers and once a week, I’ll be share short snippets from the manuscript and also my take on the cultural issues that impact our happiness. I want your feedback and comments! In fact, every week, I’ll give away a $50 in gift cards to one reader who posts on the blog – $25 for you, and $25 for someone you want to bless! The first happiness trigger I’ll share this week is, “Anticipation.” Make this declaration: “Every day, I have something to look forward to.” Whether you create something or just notice what’s in front of you, having something to look forward to will always brighten your day.
Anticipation: Notice What’s in Front of You
Maybe you can relate to this. Sometimes, when my calendar gets really full, I can get into a rut of dreading what’s coming up. Mind you, I have spent years building a life that I actually love, so it is rare that I have something on the calendar that I didn’t at some point actually want to do. But when there is too much of it, I forget about the fact that it’s exciting stuff and begin to focus simply on the fact that there is so much of it. So I’ve learned to pause when I look at my calendar – then breathe, and mindfully soak in the upcoming events of the day. It’s not just “stuff to do.” It’s my life. And I’m grateful for it. And most of it is something to look forward to.
When life becomes a crowded routine of work, obligations and whatever else is on your overloaded plate, it dampens your joy. What are you looking forward to today? How about next week? Or three months from now? Research shows that anticipation – enthusiasm for a future event – increases positive emotion and boosts your happiness. But when your schedule is full and life has become a monotony of daily tasks and expectations, anticipation and enthusiasm are likely not the emotions you feel. The good news is this: You can intentionally create something to look forward to every single day. In fact, if you are going to be happy woman, you must. Most happy women do this naturally. They may not even recognize it on a conscious level, but if you ask them about their schedule, you’ll notice joy-inducing events sprinkled throughout their days and weeks.
So that meeting you have at 11 am? Rather than another meeting, look at it as an opportunity to move forward and be productive. That lunch date you scheduled that you feel like you don’t have time for today? Savor the time to slow down for a meal and connect with that person one-on-one in the midst of a full day. The gymnastics practice you must rush your daughter to later this afternoon? Remember the day when you dreamed of having child of your own and savor the fact that you have a healthy, energetic little girl who is blossoming right before your eyes. Oh, and the finale of your favorite show you’re going to curl up on the sofa and watch at 9 o’clock tonight? Express to somebody how much you’re looking forward to it. Expression is a key to anticipation. I want to hear from you. What do you think? What can you look forward to today or this week?
