Resolution One: Admit Snobbery and Open Excel.

Until recently (and I wouldn’t have admitted it openly), I used to think respectable inspiration came only from "serious" books—neuroscience texts, Feynman biographies, and dense behavioral studies. The kind you mention at dinner parties to sound intellectual.

But then a friend handed me "The Happiness Project," and my inner snob revolted with all the force of a tenured astronomy professor who has been called an “astrologer”. A happiness memoir? Please. I prefer statistics and studies, not glorified personal blogs (yes, I see the irony as I write this).

I expected narcissistic drivel from someone who "just wants to focus on themselves" - a phrase that makes me want to spit out coffee. I don't even drink coffee.

Surprisingly, instead of encountering a self-obsessed mommy blogger with “Live, Laugh, Love” tattooed on her soul, I found a refreshingly honest, flawed human. Each month, she tackled different resolutions to boost her (and others’) happiness. Her journey unexpectedly echoed wisdom from books I'd considered more… legitimate: "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry," "The 80/20 Principle," and even Mister Rogers' writings.

The most embarrassingly obvious insight? Being happier yourself makes others happier. Revolutionary, I know. But think about it—has your terrible mood ever improved anyone's day? Meanwhile, my irritability yesterday was about as infectious as Typhoid Mary.

I still blush a little at the thought of calling my new endeavor a "happiness project”, so I won’t force myself to label it as such… Not yet anyway. But I know I need to be better - to be more content and to have more energy for others instead of offering them emotional leftovers. To do that well (and long-term) I can’t simply ask myself to conjure more energy and love and kindness. I need to do some deeper work, which will be a lot more humbling... And a lot scarier, too.

I need resolutions.

I need growth.

I need an Excel spreadsheet!