Happiness Project: Attitude Revisited

My happiness project has been evolving a little. While I initially thought I would take well to the systematic process of checking boxes each day, like Gretchen did in her Happiness Project, it became much more of a chore and frankly a hindrance to wanting to work on my resolutions.  So last month, as I worked on attitude, I pretty much abandoned my resolution chart.

Instead of my chart, I have a simple slip of paper with my resolutions listed on it. I keep it in the front pocket of the binder I use to keep my planner and my blog organizer in. This way, I see it every day. It has the resolution for the month with my action steps, but also the previous resolutions and steps listed. So every day, at some point, I stop and look at it for a moment and think about how I am doing on all of the items.

So how have I been doing? I’d say I did ok with attitude. Nothing earth shattering, but a few good habits created.

• Start a gratitude notebook. Aced this one. I used a small journal my brother had given me once and started out with the plan to list three things I love, or three graces, every day. Sometimes I got behind, but kept track of how many I should have and caught back up. So as of today, I have a notebook with 132 things I love listed in it. This practice has been extremely good for me. It forces me, which some days I need, to think about the good things in my day. And on a bad day, I love reading back through my list.
• Be generous. I’m coming around on this one. As I mentioned in my original attitude post, this one was not so much about money, but much more about time and skills. I am becoming much more generous with my time and not begrudging giving it to others so much. I still find myself being a little stingy with it at times, but I am making slow and steady progress.
• Find one good thing about every person and situation. I have to be honest, I suck at this. I have tried, and there are times where I am too stubborn, or too black-and-white, or too selfish to see things any other way than my own. This isn’t all the time, but it is often the case with people and situations that are especially difficult for me. Which, really, is where I need to apply this. Obviously the less tough circumstances are a hell of  a lot easier to find the good in, right? So, this one is stalled right here, not even making much progress.
• Focus on what I have. Like being generous, I am making progress on this. Actually, the act of getting rid of stuff, as I did in the first month of my project, makes it become easier to focus on what I have. Especially as I realize the things I don’t have any more, really aren’t missed that much.  Also, the gratitude notebook helps with this as well.

Do I have a whole new attitude? No. I am still the glass-half-empty girl who desperately wants to be a glass-half-full girl. But, I have at least developed a new habit which makes me more aware of my blessings. Which is a start. And I am slowly – baby steps – making progress in other areas.

Are you any of you glass-half-full people? What advice do you have for me?