Accept myself, and expect more of myself. Give myself limits to give myself freedom. Make people happier by acknowledging that they’re not feeling happy. Plan ahead to be spontaneous; only with careful preparation do I feel carefree. Accomplish more by working less. Happiness doesn’t always make me feel happy. Flawed can be more perfect than perfection. It’s very hard to make things easier. My material desires have a spiritual aspect. Hell is other people. Heaven is other people. What was “happiness,” anyway, and was it even possible to make myself happier?

— Gretchen Rubin

Although we presume that we act because of the way we feel, in fact we often feel because of the way we act.

— Gretchen Rubin

As goofy as it sounds, I try to sing in the morning. It's hard both to sing and to maintain a grouchy mood, and it sets a happy tone for everyone - particularly in my case, because I'm tone-deaf, and my audience finds my singing a source of great hilarity.

— Gretchen Rubin

Audiences = expectations. If he thinks you're not watching, he won't need to rebel against your expectations.

— Gretchen Rubin

By mindfully deciding how to act in line with my values instead of mindlessly applying my rules, I was better able to make the decisions that supported my happiness.

— Gretchen Rubin

Each week, I post a video about some 'Pigeon of Discontent' raised by a reader. Because, as much as we try to find the 'Bluebird of Happiness,' we're also plagued by those small but pesky 'Pigeons of Discontent.'

— Gretchen Rubin

Enthusiasm is a form of social courage.

— Gretchen Rubin

Experts say that denying bad feelings intensifies them, acknowledging bad feelings allows good feelings to return.

— Gretchen Rubin

Growing up in Kansas City, I was always neat, the teacher's pet, know-it-all type.

— Gretchen Rubin

Happiness is a critical factor for work, and work is a critical factor for happiness. In one of those life-isn't-fair results, it turns out that the happy outperform the less happy. Happy people work more hours each week - and they work more in their free time, too.

— Gretchen Rubin