I grasped two things: I wasn't as happy as I could be, and my life wasn't going to change unless I made it change.

—Gretchen Rubin in The Happiness Project

life change happiness

About Gretchen Rubin

Portrait of Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Craft Rubin (born December 14, 1965) is an American author, blogger and speaker.

More quotations from Gretchen Rubin

When I thought about why I was sometimes reluctant to push myself, I realized that it was because I was afraid of failure—but in order to have more success, I needed to be willing to accept more failure.

—Gretchen Rubin

fear acceptance failure reluctance

The things that go wrong often make the best memories.

—Gretchen Rubin in The Happiness Project

planning surprise memories

The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.

—Gretchen Rubin in The Happiness Project

happiness belief effort generosity feelings discipline energy unhappiness selfishness care selflessness lightheartedness

The days are long, but the years are short.

—Gretchen Rubin

time perception

There's a great satisfaction in knowing that we've made good use of our days, that we've lived up to our expectations of ourselves.

—Gretchen Rubin in Better Than Before

satisfaction expectations good use

More quotations tagged with “happiness”

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.

—George Burns

happiness family distance

I would never be popular. I didn't want to be; I liked being shy. I'd never be the smartest or the hottest or the happiest.

—Laurie Halse Anderson in Wintergirls

happiness popularity shyness

I cried at first… and then, it was such a beautiful day, that I forgot to be unhappy.

—Frances Noyes Hart

happiness tears

I love you. And I love you enough to let you go, if I have to. If it's what will make you happy, I'm okay with that. Whatever you decide.

—Selena Kitt in Baumgartner Generations

love acceptance relationship happiness letting go

There's so much more to life than finding someone who will want you, or being sad over someone who doesn't. There's a lot of wonderful time to be spent discovering yourself without hoping someone will fall in love with you along the way, and it doesn't need to be painful or empty. You need to fill yourself up with love. Not anyone else. Become a whole being on your own. Go on adventures, fall asleep in the woods with friends, wander around the city at night, sit in a coffee shop on your own, write on bathroom stalls, leave notes in library books, dress up for yourself, give to others, smile a lot. Do all things with love, but don't romanticize life like you can't survive without it. Live for yourself and be happy on your own. It isn't any less beautiful.

love life beauty relationships discovery happiness pain adventure smiling

History

8 May 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

I grasped two things: I wasn't as happy as I could be, and my life wasn't going to change unless I made it change.