Plan Your Happily Ever After So That It's Not Just a Fairy Tale

"Your mind is a garden;
your thoughts are seeds.
You can grow flowers,
​or you can grow weeds."
-Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel adopted the name “Dr. Seuss” after an incident at Dartmouth in 1925. He was editor and chief of the humor magazine, Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern. When he was caught drinking with nine of his friends in his room, he was forced to resign as editor.

To continue working on the magazine without the administration's knowledge, Geisel adopted the pen name "Seuss.” He used the title Dr. because his father wanted him to study medicine!
 
March 2nd was Dr. Seuss’s birthday. March 20th is another important day in March. 

March 20th is The International Day of Happiness

Yes, really! Go ahead - ask Google

The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012 proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness, recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives

Why is this important? Because traveling the road to happiness requires a positive outlook. I know in this time of political division and frustration it seems fruitless to tell you about the UN resolution and ask you to celebrate, but what better time than now!

BUT HOW?

Welcome to Make HAPPY a Habit!, my simple, easy-to-follow 30-day plan that will leave you feeling happy (contented/joyful/fulfilled/satisfied) and will make you more resilient, help you have less stress, and simply enjoy life more. Raise your hand if you’d like that!

I’m sure you have some habits you’d like to stop (biting your nails, always being late because you think it makes you look important), and there are some we’d really like to do more often (get better at reading social cues, being able to sleep on an airplane). 

Read on for creating a daily habit that comes
​with guarantees. ​

Since science has proven that at least 40% of what we think and how we act is a choice*, choose to do the following five simple basic tasks every day for 30 days and see how this can help with planning your future:

1 – Every morning SAY (out loud) three things you are grateful for. Helps you greet the day with a smile.

2 – Every night WRITE down a positive experience from the past 24 hours (can be just one sentence) Keep a pad and pen on nightstand. Thinking positive before bedtime helps with sleep!

3 – Exercise - 20 min a day. This doesn’t have to include a Lululemon outfit or a gym membership. Go for a walk; enjoy nature. See how many steps you’ve completed.  (You can split the time, if you are a whiner)

4 – Meditate - 5-7 min a day, No mantra necessary. This can be guided (Headspace/Calm) or by simply sitting quietly listening to wordless music.  
​
5 – Perform a Random Act of Kindness (let someone in front of you in traffic, buy a coffee for the person behind you at Starbucks). There is real joy in a random act of kindness. 

There! That doesn’t look so hard, does it? Do it for 30 days, and it becomes a habit. BTW, you’ll get extra credit if you start today! It’s your choice.

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one
who'll decide where to go.”
-Dr. Seuss

Travel safely,
​
Loretta
[email protected]

*Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, distinguished professor of Psychology, University of California, Riverside.