We asked author Lisa Jansen, 5 questions about her brand new book One Size Does Not Fit All. Watch the video below or continue reading to find out more about this brilliant read to help you discover your personal path to a happier life.
What inspired you to write this book?
Lisa: “There are two key factors that inspired me to write One Size Does Not Fit All.”
“First of all, I had been on this incredible journey of self-discovery and finding happiness. I had turned my life around and was happier than I ever thought I could be. I had turned from an unhappy, lost, uninspired, unhealthy and overweight person into someone who is fit and healthy, has a lot of meaning and purpose in her life and, most importantly, is happy and fulfilled. I saw writing a book about my journey and the things I had learned as a way to share it with others – and maybe help them achieve the same. The thought that my experience and insights could help others was incredibly inspiring to me.
“The second thing that inspired me to write One Size Does Not Fit All is that I realised that most other books in this genre seem to miss an important point. I’ve read a lot of books about happiness and how to live a fulfilling life. Many of them have given me interesting insights and ideas and have helped me on my journey to a happier life. However, the more I read, the more I become frustrated with one thing; the fact that so many of these books take a one-size-fits-all approach and do not take our individual personalities and preferences into account.
“I found this frustrating because getting to know myself had been such an important step on my own journey to finding happiness. I had come to understand that happiness is different for everyone. The kind of life that will be fulfilling and happy for me is different from the life that will be happy for other people around me.
“It was this belief that inspired me to write a book about finding happiness that takes our individuality and uniqueness into account instead of presenting generic, one-size-fits-all advice.”
What can we expect to find in the book?
Lisa: “One Size Does Not Fit All is all about helping readers discover their personal path to a happier life. To do so, the book is split into six parts.”
“In the first part, you will learn about happiness, why we strive for it and how it is different from positive emotions, success or the absence of negative emotions.
“The second part is all about you. Through a combination of straightforward insights and engaging exercises, you will learn more about yourself, your personality, your values and your strengths and weaknesses.
“After that, the book turns its focus back to happiness and reviews existing research around what may or may not make us happy. You will be encouraged to analyse this information in the context of what you have learned about yourself, and exercises will help you identify the aspects that matter most to you.
“After that, part four discusses what are considered the Four Pillars of Happiness, before part five brings it all together and guides you through a fun and engaging process to develop your own highly individual blueprint for a happier life.
“The sixth and final part provides tips on how to put this plan into action and how to continually review and refine your plan to make sure your happiness lasts.”
How can this book help others?
Lisa: “One Size Does Not Fit All can help readers get a new perspective on happiness and what it takes to live a fulfilling and happy life. The book will help people realise the importance of getting to know themselves and discovering their unique path to a happier life instead of continuing to follow one-size-fits-all advice.
“I also hope that my own personal journey, as well as other examples in the book, will give readers the inspiration and motivation to put what they learn into action.”
What did you learn when writing this book?
Lisa: “Writing One Size Does Not Fit All has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I loved doing the research and discussing the concepts with different people. Even though I already knew a lot about happiness and personality theory when I started, I learnt a whole lot more through writing this book.
“However, the thing I loved most was seeing an idea that had been in my head for a long time turn into something tangible. For quite a while, I had these ideas and insights in my head that I thought would be valuable for other people, but I struggled to communicate and share them. Seeing them turn into words, chapters and, eventually, a full book that others can read was absolutely amazing and very rewarding.”
What advice would you have for anyone trying to find happiness?
Lisa: “My number one tip for anyone trying to find or increase happiness is this: Stop chasing happiness for now and get to know yourself first.”
“I believe the main reason why so many people struggle to find real and lasting happiness is that they follow generic advice that is based on averages and majorities without taking their own personality and values into account. Happiness is different for all of us. To truly find it we first need to figure out who we are, what truly matters to us and how we can design and live a life that will be fulfilling and meaningful to us – regardless of what the average or majority is thinking or doing.”
Order your copy of One Size Does Not Fit All for just £9.99.
