"Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they’re big flashing signs that something needs to change."

- Gretchen Rubin

"Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to change."

- Gretchen Rubin

"I always had the uncomfortable feeling that if I wasn’t sitting in front of a computer typing, I was wasting my time–but I pushed myself to take a wider view of what was ‘productive.’ Time spent with my family and friends was never wasted."

- Gretchen Rubin

"One of the best ways to make yourself happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past. Photos are a great memory-prompt, and because we tend to take photos of happy occasions, they weight our memories to the good."

- Gretchen Rubin

"Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. Lower the bar. Actually, spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending a weekend cleaning out the basement."

- Gretchen Rubin