The Joy Plan

How I Took 30 Days to Stop Worrying, Quit Complaining, and Find Ridiculous Happiness

Kaia Roman

2017 • 320 pages

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As a mother, a wife, and a businesswoman, Kaia Roman always had a plan. But when her biggest plan, the business she cofounded, collapsed, Kaia found herself crushed by depression. And what felt even worse was that, with a husband and two kids relying on her to get out of bed, she didn't have a plan to move forward. Determined to turn her life around and put her ingrained habits of stress and anxiety behind her, Kaia decided to put everything else on hold and dedicate thirty days to the singular pursuit of joy. The results were astonishing-and lasted much longer than the initial monthlong project. In this uplifting and eye-opening memoir, Kaia uses her business savvy to create a concrete Joy Plan to get back on her feet fast. Using scientific research on hormones, neurotransmitters, and mindfulness, along with the daily dedication to creating a more joyful existence, Kaia teaches readers how to move past temporary happiness and succeed in creating joy that lasts. Complete with advice, exercises, and key takeaways, The Joy Plan is Kaia's step-by-step guide to how she, and everyone else, can ditch the negative and plan for the joy in their lives.

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Deb Nance

I had been listening to this audiobook for several days when I ran across this passage:

“I just couldn't stop worrying about everything.
‘Kaia, just relax,' my mom had said.
‘I'm trying as hard as I can,' I exclaimed.”

Oh my, I thought. I remember that. In fact, I'd written it down; I liked it so much.

Still later, I found this passage:

REMEMBER THESE THINGS

1. You are responsible for your own experience.
2. Start each day with gratitude.
3. Whenever possible, ignore or avoid anything that makes you feel bad.
4. Keep a mental portfolio of happy thoughts you can refer back to regularly.
5. Exercise until you sweat at least three times a week.
6. Look for opportunities to smile and laugh.
7. Walk outside, look around, and marvel at what a miracle it all is.
8. Indulge your five senses in some form of pleasure every day.
9. When in doubt, drink more water and eat more vegetables.
10. If you are having relationship troubles with your spouse, make love. Most of the time that will solve it.
11. Nothing is ever as big a deal as you think it is.
12. Complaining about something is telling the universe you'd like a second helping, please.
13. You don't have to be defined or limited by your hardships.
14. There's no such thing as failure, only research and plot twists.
15. When things are hard, remember you are on the verge of a breakthrough.
16. The key to success isn't intelligence or money; it's faith.
17. Parking spots and cookies are just as easy to manifest as dream jobs and financial abundance.
18. The universe has a creative way to fulfill all your desires beyond what you can imagine. Your fear and worry only get in the way.
19. Look for ways to say yes instead of no.
20. Always come back to gratitude.

Oh yes, I copied these into my journal, too.

Clearly I needed to read this book again.

So I did. Over and over. I listened to the whole book once, twice, and then I randomly went back and listened to the chapters I enjoyed the most.

Very, very helpful book.