Commandments for Happy Living

The Old Testament identifies Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and Jesus reduces those to two in the New Testament (Matthew 22:37-39), but in The Happiness Project, which we've been discussing here, author Gretchen Rubin identifies twelve commandments that she "predicted, would help [her] as [she] was struggling to keep [her] resolutions."


Merriam-Webster's online dictionary describes a commandment as 

1. the act or power of commanding
2. something that is commanded; especially: one of the biblical Ten Commandments

Defined for English-language learners it is

an important rule given by God that tells people how to behave

In terms of Gretchen's use, I think the latter (minus the phrase "given by God") is most helpful - a commandment is a rule that guides our behaviour. A couple of examples of Gretchen's commandments are: 'Act the way I want to feel' and 'Do what ought to be done.' Another way of putting the first is 'If I want to be happy, I have to act happy' (in conjunction with this she spends some time discussing the adage 'fake it until you make it'). 'Do what ought to be done' can be expressed as 'Do the right thing' or 'Do what you know you should do.' Both of these commandments can help us succeed at being happy. Act happy and the feelings will follow (maybe not right away, but eventually). Do what should be done in a situation and you have the gratification of knowing you did what was right, even if it was hard.


At the Happiness Project Toolbox you can find the complete list of commandments Gretchen lives by. Use this, as I am, to construct your own list of rules for happy living. And feel free to share one or two of them here. Here are a couple of mine:

• time is precious - make it count
• respect myself and others