The Happiness Project, The First Week of the Second Year in The New Abnormal

I subscribe to The New York Times. As an online subscriber I often miss stories and articles that are of interest to me. However, I was fortunate enough to receive the Happiness Challenge of this last week. It wasn’t an outsized commitment but small acts of recognition and gratitude.

For too many years I lived with a deprivation mindset. It meant that I felt lacking in so many ways. Even when good things took place, it felt like it wasn’t enough to fill the void. I could intellectually recognize a good thing, but emotionally I wasn’t able to internalize it. When I learned to be grateful for acts of kindness, and when I learned to appreciate moments of joy, I was able to slowly move away from resentment and feelings of deprivation.

Happiness, at least as I understand it, is more of a mindset. It doesn’t mean denying the unpleasant. It only means that there is an open-mindedness to take in pleasure, care, and joy. Happiness and joy can be cultivated. So often…