Project 2025: find your true, unapologetic happiness
For some, the word HAPPINESS stirs up contradictory feelings. While happiness is, by definition, a feel-good emotion, it can sometimes come across a bit artificial. Perhaps because, in social settings, we tend to hide our more complex emotions to only show our brighter, shinier side. Or maybe because we are occasionally expected to feel happy, even when we don’t. Perhaps we feel stuck in a negative loop, or maybe, the concept of happiness is so deeply personal, that it just does not always align with others’ expectations or definitions.
Whatever the case may be, gaining a deeper understanding of what happiness means to YOU—and how it might manifest in your own life—can be comforting and even guiding, helping you navigate toward a path that feels genuinely good.
That is why, I want to share two tools with you, each offering a unique journey through the beauty of YOUR LIFE. The Time Capsule invites you to revisit and appreciate the often-overlooked good moments of your past, while The Perfect Day allows you to envision your ideal, self-designed future My hope is that, no matter what phase of life you are in, what unique perspectives and needs shape your journey, or which method resonates with you, you make it a priority to seek joy, meaning, and love in your life—because these are the foundations upon which everything else is built.
THE PERFECT DAY
Originally proposed by Martha Beck, “The Perfect Day” exercise offers a chance to reflect on your true self and discover how your very own ideal life materializes in your day. This way, you can uncover what truly matters to you and open yourself to the possibility of creating more of those moments in your everyday life.
Here is how it works:
Set aside time and space. Find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed for at least 20-30 minutes. Have a pen and paper or a notebook to write down your thoughts.
Imagine your ideal day. Close your eyes for a moment and picture this—if you were living your ideal life, at any point in the near or distant future, what would a perfect day look like? Let your imagination flow freely and walk yourself through this day in as much detail as possible. Include the little things: what you eat for breakfast, the conversations you have, or the activities that bring you joy.
Start from the moment you wake up. How do you feel? Where are you? Who is with you? What do you see, hear, or smell? Perhaps you hear someone snoring, or maybe the birds singing. Do you smell freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread? Or perhaps there is a faint scent of lavender and citrus in the air?
Move through your day hour by hour. What’s in your closet? What do you see reflected on the mirror? Who do you find in the kitchen? What activities fill your day? Notice the pace; does it feel busy and exciting, or calm and peaceful? Pay attention to how you feel throughout the day. What brings you joy, fulfillment, or a sense of purpose?
Reflect on your experience. Write down what stands out to you. What surprised you? Which values or desires did this vision reveal? Are there small elements of your perfect day that you could start incorporating into your life right now?’
Take inspired action. Use the insights from this exercise to guide small, meaningful changes in your daily life.
Remember, your perfect day is entirely your own—it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It reflects your unique preferences, values, and dreams. Revisit this exercise regularly, as your vision of a perfect day may evolve as you grow and change. This is a gift of self-discovery, so take your time, enjoy the process, and let it guide you toward what truly makes you happy.
THE TIME CAPSULE
The simple moments in daily life often hold a quiet beauty that we only come to fully appreciate in hindsight. This exercise helps you capture those small, everyday snapshots for your future self to rediscover and cherish.
Here’s how to create your Time Capsule:
Choose Your Medium: Decide where you’ll document your moments—a notebook, an app, or even a jar with little notes. The format doesn’t matter, as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy using.
Capture Snapshots of Everyday Life: Write about 3-5 small, meaningful experiences from your week. Keep it simple, there is no need to over-documenting.
Focus on What Resonates With You: Include sensory details (the smell of your morning coffee as sunlight streams through the window, the cozy comfort of your favorite sweater on a chilly day, or the taste of a delicious meal). Add moments of connection (a shared laugh during a quick chat with a friend, or an unspoken understanding through eye contact), lightness (a shared joke or a sudden shift in perspective), and meaning (an act of generosity, a display of courage, or an unexpected leadership moment). You could also include something you learned, a song you enjoyed, a book you read, or something you felt proud of.
Save and Forget: Store your time capsule in a safe spot (digitally or physically) and set a reminder for three months. Resist the temptation to peek!
Rediscover: When the time comes to open your time capsule, approach it with curiosity and a constructive mindset rather than pure nostalgia. These moments are uniquely yours—they form the tapestry of your life and remain a part of you. Reflect on their significance: How can you invite more of these experiences into your life? Did the act of noticing and appreciating these moments shift your overall perspective or mood?
Life is made up of fleeting moments, each carrying its own unique beauty. The "Time Capsule" exercise allows you to treasure these experiences—not just to reflect on them, but to carry forward their lessons and joy. It’s a way to fight emptiness and truly declare, as Pablo Neruda wrote: “I confess that I have lived.”