Act the way you want to feel

February 16, 2009

I am a fan of Gretchen Rubin. She is spending a year working on something she calls the Happiness Project, which will hit the shelves in the form of a book at the end of 2009. She’s been spending her time test-driving every principle, tip, theory, and scientific study she can find on the topic of happiness. She’s reporting along the way in her daily blog.

She has very interesting blog posts and the one from October 15, 2008 really caught my attention. She talks about the importance of doing something for someone else…which has a dual purpose. It helps YOU and it helps the other person/entity.

In the post she talks about the importance of donating money, even if you feeling poor when you look at the latest report on your 401K. She reminds us that many people don’t have a 401K. Part of happiness is recognizing that you probably have a great deal to be grateful for. If you can’t give money, you can donate books to libraries, she advises. (Hey, I’m all for that!) Or give blood. An action that gives life to another. No pricetag on that gift.

According to Gretchen:

“So act the way you want to feel. Acting with generosity, with gratitude, with compassion, will change your perception of your own situation. And it will improve the lives of others.”

In the not-too-distant future and we’ll be going to the community with our library’s capital campaign. We’d love to be able to Foster Growth…and happiness…all around. Such a wonderful and unique opportunity to give a gift that means something important today that will also last beyond any of our own lifetimes. Happiness…for you right now as a result of giving…and for countless others, some of whom you will never know, but for whom a strong library will help to create a happy life. (More about that in another post.)