Secrets of Adulthood

Sometimes a book keeps coming at you from all different directions. I kept seeing The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin everywhere. I would walk past a shop and see it, I would see it online, I would see it in the newspaper, I would over hear someone talking about it at a cafe. The universe trying to tell me to read it. I scoffed inwardly "I don't read self help books and I certainly don't need help to be happy." Cynical? Yes. 

But yet it still kept jumping out at me. So I popped it on my kindle before we went to Thailand and I started reading it on the plane. I was immediately struck by the authors honesty it is hugely personal but so much of what she said rang true to me. Gretchen makes various commandments and personal truths for herself to keep her on track as she tackles different aspects of her life month by month. The research is comprehensive and explained in an easy to read way and there is a good mix of evidence as well as personal truths. I loved some of the great ideas she has like : don't delay a task that takes less than a minute. I have made this 5 minutes for me and I find if I just- for example put the washing away rather than be annoyed by the basket it really actually makes me feel lighter. 


Probably my favourite part of book are The Secrets of Adulthood. You know those things you work out as you grow up that you can't believe took you so long to "get' which I loved as I often thought about these kind of things, when one would spring up I would immediately think - why didn't I work that out sooner?? What took me so long to work it out?


So I started writing mine down when I thought of them:


here they are:


When cranky assess last food and water intake.

Good food and exercise makes you feel good.

Sometimes it's easier to shut up

Ranting and raving and "venting" make you feel worse not better.

Always be nice to admin people, no matter how difficult that may sometimes be.

It's generally not the fault of the person who answers the phone.

It saves time if you read the instructions.

Friendship is not always forever.

It's nice to be nice.

No one will ever be as consistently excited to see you as your dog.

People who come across as snobby or rude may just be incredibly shy.

If you say the compliment out loud, it will make you both feel good.

Nothing ever turns out as you imagine it in your minds eye. Never ever.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.*

Being optimistic is a force of will.

Question professionals decisions and treatment plans. Ask about evidence. 

Always have a wet weather plan.

The words "sorry" and "but" cancel each other out.

Wanting change means getting actively involved.

Feeling guilty is a choice you make.

People that tell you you are sensitive may have just been incredibly insensitive. 




* this one is obviously not my own but it took me a while to get the concept

What are your secrets of adulthood? I would love to know, I bet you have lots of them.