Happiness and the Hell Yes Philosophy

So, I know my mom, dad (the preacher) and grandmother read this blog from time to time, so I apologize for the light swearing, but it just wouldn't have the same effect if I used euphemisms. I picked up a little novelty book on vacation this summer that changed my thinking, and I think it's a great rule of thumb when paving out the way to happiness.

It's called Hell Yes.

Here's an excerpt and the basic jist:

"Before you put one more thing on your calendar

Before you agree to take on a new project

Before you say yes to an invitation

Before you buy something

Even before you eat something

Ask yourself one simple question...

Is it a HELL, YES??

If it's not a Hell Yes, then let your answer be,

HELL NO."

It seems so simple, but this concept and way of decision making was enlightening for me. How many times have I decided to so something because I felt like I should, or because it was the right thing to do, or what I thought everyone else thought I should do? On the flip side, how many times have I not done something that I really wanted to, but was scared or thought it was silly or impractical?

Of course, there will be exceptions to any rule, and I don't think you can use this rule for every single situation in life...it's really pretty selfish. For example, do I want to go to work in the morning? And let's face it, how many of us really could say, Hell Yes?! If we incorporated this rule, then we'd all be bumming around. There also other obligations I think we should uphold, no matter what are feelings are, but I am not here to talk about the exceptions.

Though seemingly selfish, and however menial at times, I think this rule can help keep us on our path. Here's an example where I used it both ways lately.

We've been thinking, worrying, and laboring over putting our house up for sale. We don't really need to move now. We love our house and our area. However we are motivated by fear. We will eventually need a couple more rooms, and to be closer to nicer schools. The interest rates have no where to go but up. So we've been fixing up our house, making it even more homey and to our liking than before. I keep asking myself..."Why are we moving?" So let's incorporate the rule. Should we sell the house? Neither one of us felt like it was a resounding Hell Yes, so we let the answer be Hell No. We both thought it was such a huge, and important decision, that it was actually a great place to incorporate the rule. So we're going to sit on it until spring.

We've been thinking about sprucing up the garden and painting the exterior brick...we're thinking "Hell Yes!" Decision Made.

Right now, I should probably go to bed, however I'm dying to finish Breaking Dawn. Hell, Yes I want to read, even though it's past my bed time.

Good meal tonight, walk with my little munchkin, nice fall weather, scheming about landscaping and home improvements, good reads before bed. My cup runneth over.

I am blessed :-) Heck Yea, I am. (That was for you, Dad).