If you followed the Happiness Project last semester you are aware that we skipped a couple months this summer. To fill yourself in I will remind you that this self-help book “The Happiness Project” is written by Gretchen Rubin.

Now, September will be the month of pursuing a passion. Taking the time to do something you love is extremely important in becoming the happiest you that you can be. Things like writing a novel, making time for yourself, forgetting about results and mastering a new technology are a few of the things that you can do to create this happiness.

Write a novel

You don’t necessarily have to write a novel to accomplish this task but it is a wonderful way to express yourself. By taking some time out of your everyday life you are able to write a novel in a month. If you go by the standards that Rubin sets you will accomplish a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Yes, that does seem rather short, but it is the same length as some very famous novels like “The Great Gatsby” and “Fight Club.” You could write a song or an album for that matter. It just depends on where you like to release your creativity. Although, the satisfaction that you will feel after completing a plot will fill you with so much joy that you will want to write another one.

Make time 

Make time to read a book for pleasure instead of classes. Read something you’ve already read, read a book that has been sitting on your shelf for too long. If you don’t think you like reading books, give it a try. You might surprise yourself. If you really don’t like reading novels then read something else or make time to actually watch some television instead of just zoning out in front of the screen. Spiraling into someone else’s thoughts through the way they were able to express them is something incredible.

Forget about results

Stop worrying about the time you are “wasting” simply by being yourself. If it’s something you love then keep doing it. Take notes, tinker, write lyrics, color, flip through magazines. If it makes you happy and it makes you, you, then why not spend a little time each day forgetting the effect it has on your time or the results of your day and just do what feels natural.

Master a new technology

Master something that will allow you to skip the middleman. Gretchen writes about how she was interested in publishing her own books so that is what she looked into learning. Find something you have always wanted to learn and teach yourself, or look into being taught. Finding a way to be able to further your passions is something that is extremely satisfying and adds a great deal of happiness to your everyday life.

Taking time out of your day to do the things you love and broadening your horizons will really help to add joy into your life.