Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, lost her husband to a tragic accident. Sandberg, who is quite famous for her book, Lean In, is writing a book with Adam Grant, the author of two of my favorite recent books, Give and Take and Originals.
In a commencement speech at the University of California at Berkeley, Sandberg talked about her personal struggles after losing her husband, and about resilience.
“The easy days ahead of you will be easy. It is the hard days—the times that challenge you to your very core—that will determine who you are. You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.”
She said her New Year’s resolution was to write down three moments of joy before going to bed each night: “This simple practice has changed my life. Because no matter what happens each day, I go to bed thinking of something cheerful. Try it.”
As I’ve written and spoke about many times, positivity requires a proactive effort for most of us. Whether you write down three things that made you smile, three things for which you are grateful, or three achievements, making lists like these will help you to be happier.
Every Saturday on the Six Simple Rules Facebook page, and on Twitter, I post a reminder to write lists like those. I hope you are doing that. If not, then as Sandberg says, try it.
Are you making positivity lists? What has your experience been? Please join the conversation with your comments…
Best regards,
David