And Kindle Prime members can borrow it for free!

You wouldn’t know it from my dearth of published works the past few months, but I write. A lot. Not just blog-writing or work-writing, either; I do a fair bit of creative writing.

And you’d think after so many years of filling notebooks, I’d finally have the creativity thing cornered, right? TRUE FACT: Not always. Which is why I liked Happiness Rehab: 8 Creative Steps to a More Joyful Life, by Mary Schramski and Jennifer Archer.

The authors start with the premise that creativity leads to a more fulfilling and joyful life because it is the process by which we become ourselves. Yet, they note, many adults have trouble kick-starting the creative process (or, um, staying on the creative bike once it’s running) for three reasons. We assume creativity should be effortless; we pay little attention to our surroundings; and we’ve set aside the sense of childlike wonder that brings everyday moments to life.

These things aren’t lost, mind you. They’re just not normal for a lot of people. But they can be.

Throughout the book’s eight steps to encourage creative living, the authors provide exercises, insight, and support for readers. None of the exercises offered are difficult or time-consuming, but all of them nudge the reader to see the world in a new way – the key to unlocking personal creativity.

The authors also do the exercises themselves, and share their own responses. This gives Happiness Rehab a wonderful air of being a collaborative process – not one you have to do on your own with the nagging sense that you’re fooling yourself, but one you’re sharing with other people who are also out to find themselves.

A great book for anyone who wants to explore a more joyful and vibrant way of living.

Happiness Rehab: 8 Creative Steps to a More Joyful Life, by Mary Schramski and Jennifer Archer. Available on Amazon Kindle.