The Happiness Project

Analyzing why I'm not freaking out over getting laid off has led me to one conclusion: Being prepared feels good.

Now, I have to decide what to do next. This is not a simple matter of just getting a new job. I'm trying to effect a significant change in my career path from where I was [so unhappy and frustrated] to a new, as yet undefined, destination. This is something I've been working on for the past two years and am not as nearly close to a resolution as I would hope. Here's what I've concluded from that: Being undecided does not feel good.

After wasting several hours reading The Happiness Project, I've observed that one avenue to happiness is to itemize some broad maxims about yourself, your needs, and your motivations. This is in keeping with another project I've been toying with this year: creating a vision board for my life. And another: crafting a family mission statement. Writing down some stream-of-consciousness musings helps to identify the theme, so that's what I'll be using this space for in the next few weeks/months.

Having a schedule for the next few weeks, at least, will help me manage some of the downs that I'm sure are headed my way. Some people recommend putting on shoes every day as a way to mentally get engaged in getting-stuff-done-mode. I'm definitely of that ilk but think I can accomplish the same with just getting dressed rather than rolling around the house in my pajamas/fleece. Wearing shoes in the house is just going to get the house dirtier quicker!

I've also already started to covet things: movies, cosmetics, clothes, take-out. No matter how long this period of fiscal conservation lasts, it won't be forever. I've mentally started a list of Things I'm Going to Miss/Forgo as a way to acknowledge to myself The Want and then put it aside for another time by writing it on the list.

I'll post other tools and coping strategies as I come across them or realize them.