This inspiring book, The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People by David Niven, connects science and research to both familiar and surprising secrets for being happy and leading a positive life. David Niven's secrets to being happy gathers together and makes accessible years of research on the subject.
With 100 secrets to happiness there's a lot to take in and your journal can help as you try to apply this information to your life. Write in your journal as you read each chapter.
1. Before you read the book, jot down your own simple secret to happiness and why you feel it holds the secret to happiness? After you've read the book, come back to this journal entry. Is it included in the 100 simple secrets? Would you still include it? Would you add to it or change it in some way?
2. How much happier would you like to be? 30%? 70%? Twice as happy? Three times as happy? Scan the end of each section that contains some of the research statistics. Highlight if you can or want the percentage or amount that happiness is increased in the study. Which secrets rate the highest? What changes have the greatest chance of increasing your happiness? What has the greatest chance of decreasing your happiness?
3. Was there a couple of related ideas or themes that you saw over and over again in the secrets and research?
4. Interview your grandparents on their secrets for happiness. Next, ask happy friends or family members for their secrets and write them in your journal.
5. Which secret surprised you the most in this book? Why?
6. Which secrets did you already know about, but have been unable to integrate into your life? How can you make them a part of your life now?
7. Try to write in your journal each day, week or month about all the things you are grateful for in your life. What is happening in the world, or to someone you know or have read about that makes you grateful for your own circumstances? What positive events are grateful for? What everyday little things are you grateful for?