Podcast 181: Practice Reverse Gossip, an Email-Related Hack, and How to Deal with a Sweetheart Who Gives Words of Non-Affirmation.

Heading up to Labor Day on September 3 (U.S.), we’re gearing up to talk about #HappierLaborDay!
 

Try This at Home

Practice reverse gossip.

 

Happiness Hack

When writing a tricky email, don’t fill in the “To” line until you know you’re ready to hit “send,” to keep yourself from sending too early or accidentally. This has saved me many times. 
 
Before & After: Emily made several significant habit changes by using many of the strategies outlined in Better Than Before, such as the Strategies of MonitoringPairingSafeguards, and Scheduling. Also, she “identified the problem” in many helpful areas. If you want the Checklist for Habit Change, you can download it here. If you want to take the free quiz to find out if you’re a Questioner, Obliger, Upholder, or Rebel, you can take it here
 

Listener Question

Inspired by our discussion of the happiness stumbling block of “raising the bar” in episode 116, a listener asks how to handle her husband’s inclination to raise the bar when she does thoughtful things for him—a particular challenge because her Love Language is “Words of Affirmation,” and this feels like words of non-affirmation.
 
Gretchen’s Demerit: I don’t wear sunscreen as part of my daily face moisturizer, because I love Embryolisse Concentrated Lait Cream.
 
Elizabeth’s Gold Star: Elizabeth gives a gold star to our mother, for sending photos regularly while she and our father were on a trip. Sending photos was an easy, fun way to keep us in the loop about their adventures.

Resources

  1. Help your non-podcast-listening friends—show them how to listen to podcasts! There’s a wonderful world of terrific podcasts waiting for people, for free, once they know how to listen.
  2. And while you’re at it, please subscribe, rate, and review! These gestures really are a tremendous help to our show. It helps new listeners discover our podcast.

LATEST EPISODES

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

DISCOVER MORE

Like what you see? Explore more about this topic.

Subscribe to Gretchen’s newsletter.

Every Friday, Gretchen Rubin shares 5 things that are making her happier, asks readers and listeners questions, and includes exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes material.