Ta-da! Here’s the one-minute video for my new book, Happier at Home, on “Ten ways to be happier at home.” Some of the “ways” are serious; some are a bit goofy.

Thanks so much to Chris Gelles who created it.

What do you think? What strategies would you add?

If seeing this book trailer made you think, “Goodness, Gretchen, I want to pre-order Happier at Home right this minute,” then here are the links you need! Pre-orders are a big help to me, so thanks for pre-ordering.

If you want to know more about the book, you can…

read about it;

listen to an excerpt from the audio-book;

sample an excerpt from the chapter on “Time.”

For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.

This week’s story:

 

This reminds me of something Virginia Woolf wrote in her Diary: “My mind works in idleness. To do nothing is often my most profitable way.” Agree, disagree? Does your “work” sometimes distract you from your “work”?

Can’t see the video? Click here.

If you want to read more along these lines, check out…

7 tips I use to spark my creativity.

Pouring out ideas is better for creativity than doling them out with a teaspoon.

You can also read more about this in Happier at Home, chapter five.

Find the archives of videos here.  More than 1.3 MILLION views. Don’t forget to subscribe!

For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.

This week’s story: Get a hold of yourself, Meredith.

 

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Do you have any catch-phrases or mantras that work for you?

I’m still puzzled by why I’ve remembered this one for so many years! It reminds me of how Miss Anning rallies herself by repeating “On, Stanley, on” in Virginia Woolf’s short story, “Together and Apart.”

[She said] to herself: ‘On, Stanley, on’–which was a watchword of hers, a secret spur, or scourge such as middle-aged people often make to flagellate some inveterate vice, hers being a deplorable timidity, or rather indolence, for it was not so much that she lacked courage, but lacked energy…

If you want to read more along these lines, check out…

5 myths about fighting the blues.

Do you love paradoxes? Embrace happiness paradoxes.

Find your own koan.

You can also read more about this in Happier at Home, chapter six.

Find the archives of videos here.  More than 1.3 MILLION views. Don’t forget to subscribe!

For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.

This week’s story: The things that go wrong often make the best memories.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Have you ever had something go very wrong–which then turned into a great memory?

If you want to read more along these lines, check out…

Eight excellent tips for living that my parents gave me.

Sometimes flawed can be more perfect than perfection.

Further Secrets of Adulthood.

You can also read more about this in Happier at Home, chapter 10.

Find the archives of videos here.  More than 1.3 MILLION views. Don’t forget to subscribe!

For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.

This week’s story: Now I’m free from French fries. It relates to one of my favorite subjects: the abstainer/moderator split.

 

Can’t see the video? Click here.

If you want to read more along these lines, check out…

Want to be free from French fries? Or, why abstaining may be easier than you think.

Are you an Abstainer or a Moderator?

Trying to resist holiday temptations? 7 tips for abstainers and moderators.

You can also read more about this in Happier at Home, chapter six.

Find the archives of videos here.  More than 1.3 MILLION views. Don’t forget to subscribe!

For the weekly videos, I now tell a story. I’ve realized that for me, and I think for many people, a story is what holds my attention and makes a point most powerfully.

This week’s story: The story of Mary and Martha.

 

If you’d like to read the story as told in the King James Bible, here it is, from  Luke 10:38-42:

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

I love this story. You?

If you want to read more along these lines, check out…

Happiness challenge: saying the right thing.

First things first.

You can see the archives of videos here.  More than 1.3 MILLION views. Don’t forget to subscribe!