Happiness

First Review of The BIG Little Book of Happiness

5-Stars

What defines happiness for you?

Is it material possessions or wealth?

Is it the fulfillment of dreams?

Is it the pursuit of passion?

Well, follow Jody B. Miller as she shares what she believes happiness should be in The BIG Little Book of Happiness.

One of the notable aspects of the book is its clear and accessible language. The author conveys her ideas in a simple and well-structured manner, making it easy for readers of all backgrounds to understand and engage with the content. The writing style allows for effortless reading and participation.

To support the concepts discussed in the book, the author references research findings from reputable sources such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the Journal of Happiness Studies, and the Journal of Emotions. This inclusion of research not only adds credibility to the author’s work but also helps readers to see the scientific basis behind the ideas presented. It demonstrates that the author is not merely presenting her opinions but drawing from a wealth of knowledge in happiness studies.

The author incorporates engaging stories in each chapter. These stories cultivate a sense of connection and resonance with the readers. Skilfully written with smooth transitions, these stories add depth and relatability to the book, allowing readers to see real-life examples of how the principles of happiness can be applied.

The best part of the book is the practical exercises provided after each chapter. These exercises ensure readers can actively apply the concepts they have learned to their lives. By encouraging readers to take action, the book empowers them to move beyond theory and make meaningful changes to pursue happiness. Additionally, including pictures throughout the book adds a visual element, providing a tangible representation of the ideas being conveyed.

The book’s paragraphs are concise and well-structured, allowing for easy readability. The conversational writing style employed by the author creates a warm and friendly tone, making readers feel as though they are having a conversation with a supportive mentor. This personal touch adds a sense of authenticity to the content. It fosters a deeper connection between the author and the readers.

There’s a minor issue I noticed in the book cover, though. How the title is presented might make someone misread it as “The BIG happiness little book of.” However, this minor design issue does not negatively affect my opinion of the book.

The BIG Little Book of Happiness is highly recommended to individuals of all ages, particularly those in their twenties who may be experiencing significant pressure to achieve success and happiness. The book is exceptionally edited. It provides valuable guidance for readers on their journey toward happiness. Regardless of the minor issue, I rate it a five out of five. – Sam Ibeh

My Favorite Quotes About Success

  1. “Follow your passions, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path then by all means you should follow that.” – Ellen DeGeneres

  2. “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey

  3. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

  4. “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford

  5. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer

  6. “Chase your passion, not your pension.” – Denis Waitley

  7. “Do what you love, and you will find the way to get it out to the world.” – Judy Collins

  8. “Passion is the fuel that drives the engine of success.” – Grant Cardone

  9. “The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs

  10. “Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose.” – G.K. Nielson

How to Actually Work…When You’re Working from Home

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW ADVICE…

Source : Youtube

Today, more and more people are getting the opportunity to work from home, which is great. But sometimes, like what’s happening right now with the coronavirus, certain circumstances may actually force people to work from home.

And while working from home does come with a lot of perks– you get to work in your pajamas. You have no commute. You get to hang out with your dog. I love you. It also does have some real challenges.

Because there’s less structure, you may actually work too much and focus too hard and get burned out. What’s the answer? The second is actually kind of the opposite. It might just be hard to focus and get as much done as you really want to do.

The key to overcoming both of these challenges is to set boundaries around your time and space. So when you’re working, you’re working. And when you’re not working, you’re not. Here’s how.

The first thing you’re going to want to do is give yourself a dedicated workspace away from distraction, meaning away from the TV, away from any music or the kitchen. One thing that’s really helpful is to be able to shut the door, so that you’re out of sight.

The second thing you want to do is make a schedule and stick to it. And it may sound silly, but you actually want to pretend that you’re not working from home. So get up as you normally would.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee. Sit down with your computer. It’s good practice to play out for yourself what’s acceptable and not acceptable to do during office hours. So for example, when you’re at work, you’re not going to play with your dog or listen to music.

So don’t do them while you’re at home actually focusing on your work. Finally, you’re going to want to quit at quitting time. Even if you’re in the middle of a project, put it down, because it will help you get jumpstarted the next day.

Do you want to get me sipping my coffee?

The third thing you’re going to want to do is set boundaries. The people or animals in your life are going to see you at home and think you’re taking the day off.

But that’s not the case. Buddy, I need you to listen to me. I know what this looks like, but it’s not what it seems. You’re going to want to explain to them, unapologetically, that you’re working from home.

We’ll go on a walk at lunch. We’ll go to the park. And the more they see you around the house doing your thing, the more they’re going to begin to understand that this is your time to focus.

So at the end of the day, you might feel like you just didn’t get enough done. This is pretty normal, and a lot of people feel this way when they work from home. That’s why the last thing that’s really important to do is celebrate your wins.

Maybe write them down and go over everything you did that day. These daily reminders are really good, because they can create a virtuous cycle. And the next time you work from home, you might feel a little bit more focused and just better about your day when it’s over.

Because it’s not easy.

Source : Youtube

Jody’s Reflections:

Working from home can be great fun. But you have to focus. Here are some things I’ve been doing for the past 6+ years. They work for me. I hope you find them helpful.

I set a timer for 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on what I am working on. I work until it ends.

I play soothing meditation music with no lyrics (less distraction, more focus).

I have motivating phrases that pop up on my computer.

Finish the Task at Hand

Do the Worst First

Do it Now

I reward myself when I finish a task.

  • A cup of coffee, a snack, a walk, look at my email, do a post, write a little in my next book

Rinse and Repeat until it’s time to put work away and engage in conversation and activities with others.

 

4 out of 4 Stars Review of ‘The MISOGI Method’

[Following is a volunteer review of “The MISOGI Method” by Jody B. Miller.]

Book Cover

4 out of 4 stars

By Gabriela A.

The MISOGI Method – A method for a better life

Jody B. Miller, the author of the book, inspired by her life discovered a method to bring happiness in work and life.
The book is about this method, called MISOGI. Everything is explained very clear, step-by-step.

The book is very well written and has five parts. Part one explains, “What is MISOGI and where does it come from”. Part two presents “The benefits of a MISOGI”. Part three outlines “How to find your MISOGI”. Part four instructs you, “How to do your MISOGI” and the part five teaches, “Making it last”. Moreover, the book contains MISOGI interviews and TEDx Talk transcript.

The author discovered that “having free time to play can set you up for an exciting journey of exploration, learning, reflection, discovery self-reliance, mathematical and business prowess, emotional intelligence and openness to what the world has to offer.” Based on this idea, Jody B Miller researched and developed “The MISOGI method” several years and implemented in her life with excellent results in health, work and relationships.

Inspired by an old Japanese ritual, called MISOGI, Jody B. Miller adapted and evolved a new, modern MISOGI method. The MISOGI has rules and is something that every person can choose to be changed for the better and for the long run.

As an Application Theorist and using examples from her life, the author convincingly explains the method to increase the level of happiness, joy and love, the MISOGI method.

To understand better who you are and who you want to become, the author invites you to write your own reflections, in special places in the book. In this way, the book is an instrument to do MISOGI.

If you want to find happiness and your purpose in your life, then you should choose to do a MISOGI. That means that you need to accept challenging yourself outside the outer most limits of your comfort zone.

To find your MISOGI, you must go through a transformation process, to know you, to accept you as you are and to love you. The author guides you and helps you to understand you and find your MISOGI.

It was a pleasure to read this book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a better life and wants to become a better person. This is the reason to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.  – Gabriela A.

Book Review of ‘Drift to SHIFT’

In the self-help book From Drift to SHIFT: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life, author Jody B. Miller begins by asking the reader a lot of questions. “Why do we stay in professional and personal situations that we loathe?” or “Why are you in your current job and not in the career of your dreams?” These are the sort of questions people might ponder from time to time, but without much direction or resolution. This book offers guidance on how to find the answers to those questions with the hope of changing readers’ lives.

In typical genre fashion, the author illustrates the salient points of her “SHIFT” plan with stories, either personal experience or experiences of someone she knows. However, these are not your typical scratch-the-surface examples. Each chapter is rich in detail and reads more like a novel than a case study.

The book concludes with several posts from Miller’s blog. My favorite was “Meet Someone New Every Day: A 6-Day Experiment”. As a self-described curious person, Miller sets out to meet someone new every day for six days to “listen and learn”. All of the people she struck up conversations with responded in a friendly manner even though sometimes she puts her foot in her mouth. It does sound like a fun project, although definitely easier for natural extroverts to take on. Her final “Takeaway” from the six days is, “Happiness is about connecting with others.” That simple maxim truly is at the core of what human beings need.” – Lisa L.

Book Review of “From Drift to SHIFT”

“It isn’t easy to find quality among the countless choices of self-help titles available today, each promising us the ultimate formula to attain happiness and success. So, From Drift to SHIFT by Jody B. Miller was a welcome surprise. The book is an inspiring compilation of true stories meant to help readers find balance and joy. The author narrates the experiences of seasoned men and women who have undergone major shifts in order to overcome obstacles and find their true identities. Throughout the book, Miller explores why and how, as well as when, one can handle these shifts. She also discusses what to expect after the shift happens.” – M-17

“The perspective of Miller’s writing is helpful and motivational. Interviews with her sources are fascinating and full of ideas. Each unique story taught us to find our zeal in life. Miller’s constant reminder about embracing positive change, risk-taking abilities, drive for achievement stood out the most. Her ability to constantly challenge and question the reader was an exquisite characteristic: her words make you think. Genuinely, I preferred the Takeaways from each section: they were short and to the point.” – S. Nimandra