Turn Your Happiness ON: How to Light up your Days and Fill your Life with Joy

by Norma Nikutowski

Welcome to the New Happier You!
Are you bored with the daily grind?
Tired of feeling exhausted at the end of the day?
Do you wish you could feel happier in your everyday life?

In Turn your Happiness ON, you will find the most powerful, scientifically proven, simple strategies to increase your feelings of happiness right now.
Norma Nikutowski wrote this book to share the insights she gained from counseling people who were struggling to find joy. She also tells stories of her own search for happiness, and the sometimes humbling experiences which taught her so much. Her mission is to help as many people as possible enjoy their lives, because happiness improves health, business results, learning, productivity, relationships, and lengthens life.
When you read this practical guide, you will learn daily action steps and tips
How to change your mood right now
How to overcome everyday obstacles to a happy life
How to choose goals that will bring the most joy into your life
“This practical and fun book helps us discover that we all have the capacity to feel happiness as a welcome part of our lives. Norma shows us how to turn it on and keep happiness shining brightly and bring more joy into the world.”
— Cristina Smith, award-winning author of the Yoga for the Brain series

“Turn Your Happiness ON is a must read book for everyone, from high school students to entrepreneurs. To be successful in any area of your life, you need to find happiness. Norma Nikutowski can show you the steps and guide you to living a life full of happiness and enjoyment.”
— Wanny Huynh, author of Finding the Path toward Happiness, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Enjoyment

Norma Nikutowski, M.A. started her quest to discover how to turn happiness ON by working with clients with depression and teaching students with disabilities. She has spent many years exploring strategies for feeling happier every day and creating a joyful future, and enjoys sharing what she has learned through her writing, coaching and speaking. Learn more at www.HappinessON.com.

Genres: Self Help

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2018

Reviews

[Connie Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serendipity that I found this book right now, just when I could really use a pep talk by someone who’s actually got some concrete ideas and suggestions on how to get your happy on. My mother always said we should see the glass half full rather than half empty. My mom died last year and this book feels like a bit of karma. My mother would heartily endorse “Turn Your Happiness On.”

The author uses a variety of anecdotes and examples of challenges many of us face, then offers tactics for dealing with those challenges. But, most importantly for me, the author reminds us that we can practice being happy. She gives us techniques for viewing our lives not through rose-colored glasses, but through a positive, empowering lens.

[Matt Gianni · Rating 4 out of 5]

TURN YOUR HAPPINESS ON by Norma Nikutowski is quite an interesting read. I've always thought happiness was based on individual choice - some choose to look on the bright side while others insist on revealing in their martyrdom. Nikutowski explores why this might be so, and how the latter might learn from the former.
We've all heard that money can't buy happiness. Nikutowski presents studies showing that, after providing for basic survival necessities, large amounts of money can increase the ability to evaluate life, but will NOT enable one to live life more happily. Apparently, this has to do with an individual's happiness "level set," or their daily happiness level - a generally unhappy lottery winner will soon ramp back down to sadness while a generally happy spinal cord injury victim will soon ramp back up the their brighter disposition. So it's not about the BIG events that make or break happiness, but rather the little things that MAINTAIN happiness. For example, Nikutowski spends some time every day doing at least one activity that makes her happy.
Interestingly, within each chapter are "Action Steps" for evaluating happiness levels. I would recommend TURN YOUR HAPPINESS ON to any who think they may be missing out on activities that might otherwise increase their daily happiness level sets.

[Ian Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I bought this book out of curiosity and I am quite happy. Further, as the author says, there are times in your life when you are not, and for some, like a death, or a severe lifestyle setback, including business failure, I don't think there is any advice that works, other than work through things and remember the sun will still rise tomorrow. At the time, that is not particularly helpful.
So, the advice. My feeling is the advice will work well for some, and not for others. There are a small number of different chapters. Early on you are asked to think what made you happy in the past and make a list. That is good, but be careful; if you are unhappy through the death of a spouse you deeply loved, this will probably make things worse. (My advice in this situation is to recall your spouse loved you and would not wish to see you wallowing in despair. Move on. That worked for me, anyway.) Throughout the book you will be asked to make lists, so have pencil and paper. There are calls for action, and this is good; you don't get anywhere until you start moving. The advice is largely good, but I would question two. The first is you have to set goals, and then devote yourself to them. That is fine, as long as they are realistic. My becoming an Olympic athlete is ridiculous. I think a better summary is from General Wesley Clark: Find a plan that might work and make it work. The second is to remove clutter. A special mention is made of your work-desk. I think this depends on your personality, but in my view, a tidy desk means not enough is being done. That is personal.
So, overall, the writing is clear, everything is easily understood, and it will help many people improve the quality of their life. It won't help everyone, but some are sufficient for me to approve of it.

[Eric Tanafon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Turn Your Happiness On" is at once a book of platitudes, a book of magic, and a cookbook.

I mean ‘platitudes’ in the best possible way. Things like “Count your blessings”, “Live one day at a time”, “Know what you can change and accept what you can't”--you know, all the things we've heard a thousand times and to which we pay absolutely no attention, until someone like Ms. Nikutowski makes us think about why they became platitudes in the first place.

It's a book of magic, of the most practical sort. The author advocates using the power of positive visualization to make good things happen in your life. Things that you want to get rid of, on the other hand, can be written down on a piece of paper which you then tear up, burn or otherwise destroy. Magical techniques both, and often highly effective.

A few of the things in “Turn Your Happiness On” that made a particular impression on me were: the distinction drawn between satisfaction and happiness; the emphasis on building good habits (self programming of a sort, but hey, do you want somebody else to program you?); the assumption that other people are acting with the best intentions (not sure if that’s true, but we’re building happiness here, people, not trying to discover ultimate truth no matter how much of a downer it turns out to be); and some great quotes, such as “It’s important to take inspired action.”

Wait, did I forget the cookbook part? There’s a saying in my family that "Everything is a cookbook.", meaning that in any book there will be things you like and things you don’t; recipes that you will use and keep coming back to, and others that you already have a better version of, or just never cared for in the first place (“They put okra in that? Seriously?”)

If a cookbook has even a few recipes that you keep and treasure, it’s a good cookbook.

This is a good cookbook.

[Amy Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insightful and practical book, full of useful exercises and thoughtful concepts, without all the hand-wavey vagueness so many self help books suffer from. It's clear and expressive without getting bogged down in philosophy, and I expect to be referencing it time and again throughout my daily life. Lots of really interesting stuff about gratitude too, which I think everyone could benefit from.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pruned with plenty of common sense and a unique and enjoyable perspective, the book speaks of a path to happiness and it was truly enjoyable to read it.
The examples given by the author, the way it was presented and the 'choices' that we make to be happy were all presented very well.
Liked the book a lot.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring, uplifting read! I loved the way the tone of this book merged self-help with delightful stories and experiences from the author’s life, as well as interesting facts about happiness, depression and reaction to life changes. I found the passage about how studies show happiness levels return to baseline a year following both a very positive life change, and an extremely traumatic event like a spinal cord injury extremely interesting. Wonderful little anecdotes from the lives of figures such as Jeff Bezos and JK Rowling were a good addition.

Some of my favorite chapters included the ones on positive thinking and gratitude, especially the focus on the positive and how that can help you start to perceive more positive things in the world. There were also helpful sections on developing good routines and habits and the influence this can have on depression. I also found particularly useful some of the techniques to break unhealthy habits, particularly impulsive snacking—who doesn’t do that! And just the reminder that we should all cherish each day, as that’s all any of us can do. All in all, a wonderful, uplifting read!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[Loralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was more than a self help book. It was more like a friend sharing experience and giving caring advice. The concepts in this book help readers look at themselves and decide if what they are doing is leading them toward real happiness or not. I liked how she encouraged people to stop blaming others and circumstances for a lack of happiness, and take responsibility for our own happiness. One of the fastest ways we can keep from being happy is to find someone to blame for our unhappiness. True, bad things happen to us, and bad people do bad things, sometimes to us, but we don’t have control over other people and things. We do have control over ourselves. And we can choose to be happy despite bad things that have happened.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read about the ways we can choose to find and make our own happiness.

[Lennie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Happiness means different things to different people." :D my favorite passage from the book.

I'm a pretty simple reader. :D If something sounds interesting, I'll give it a try. And if I like it, I finish it! :D (And try to review it!) I like a good story. I want to be entertained. And occasionally, I like to read a non-fiction book to try and learn a little something.

That's why I decided to read this one. It sounded interesting. :D And it was!

I almost always read fiction books, so when I pick up any kind of non-fiction it's away a treat. Is it weird that I feel really smart when I do? I feel kind of like this: "Oh! Look at me! I'm reading something informational! Look how smart I am!" lol.

But seriously, I really liked this book. :D I found it very helpful and encouraging. And easy reading, which is always a plus in my book. ;) occasionally, I'll pick up a non-fiction book or self-help books Such as this one, and I'll find the writing too... I don't know... academic, I suppose. Does that make sense? When that happens, I don't feel smart. :( When that happens, I feel pretty dumb actually, because I can't understand whatever it was the author was trying to tell me.

(Like when I tried to read The God Delusion, to see what all the fuss was about. I couldn't finish that one at all because I was so lost trying and failing to understand it.)

But Turn Your Happiness On was very graspable, very easy to understand. And it was a very positive, uplifting book. Which made it perfect right-before-bed reading. :D

I really like how the book opened with a story about the Author's travels since I like to travel too. Someday, I want to go to England! :D <3

It also had lots of great quotes and passages, which I highlighted while I read. :D It also had little action step sections where you could make lists of things that make you happy or relationships you have that are really meaningful to you. :D I liked that. I might by a paperback copy someday, just so I can fill those little lists, lol.

There's tons of good advice here, and I learned a lot reading this book. The part about decluttering was really great. It actually made me clean up my apartment a bit! So the book works.

Highly recommended if you like self-help books. :D

[Jo Sparkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some true wisdom on happiness - Even offering definitions as well as why it should be everyone's goal. 

It takes you through various angles, from setting goals, surviving bad days or tragic times, and falling into good habits and breaking bad ones. Some of the ideas presented are hardly new, such as gratitude, finding your passion, and goal setting. But she does present some new thoughts and fresh approaches, as well as integrating them into normal life. 

I  found it for the most part uplifting, with occasionally intriguing ideas on achieving happiness. It's well worth the price.

[Bruce Perrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consider Your Impediments to Happiness Before You Pick Up this Book

"Happiness means different things to different people." That’s just one of dozens of quotes in the book. I wanted to use it because it highlights why this book can’t be completely successful. It can’t because, in 196 pages, it cannot deal with everyone’s impediments to living a happier life. I’d guess the author has addressed a large portion of the population. But on the other hand, I’m certain the book doesn’t address everyone. Why? Because you won’t find much on issues such as the lack of self-esteem (other than the fact that it suffers when you’re unhappy), learned helplessness, bullying, most work issues such as dealing with glass ceilings or learning to delegate, fear of success, and so on. And there is certainly nothing like living with phobias, addictions, or compulsions. So, my advice to the potential reader: consider what blocks your happiness and compare it to the topics covered in the book. To help with that process, I’ll try to summarize the book’s primary points.

First, many of the roadblocks to happiness covered in the book were almost truisms or circular. For example, several involve people’s tendency to focus on the negative—in the past, in interactions with friends and family, even in the news. But if you are unhappy, aren’t you by definition focusing on the negative? The advice was also a bit cliched—let go of the hurts, change your attitude, and avoid the negative (although avoiding the news wouldn’t make me happy). There were other impediments, of course, including:

Being hampered by a fear of failure—even cluttering your life with things ‘just in case’;
Believing there are simple fixes to being unhappy, particularly money;
Holding up others as examples to highlight your shortcomings; and
Focusing on the expectations of others particularly when it causes you to overextend yourself.

If you see yourself in the impediments mentioned above or similar ones, give the book a try. Changing is never going to be easy, but learning a few tricks and hearing about others who have corrected these life issues can only help.

[J.P. Willson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say, I was not quite sure how to rate this book. On the one hand I understand there are people that are unhappy in this world and could use something like this, yet if one chooses to be unhappy, reading a book,(if in fact such a person would ever read such a book)would it help them anyway? It simply is a choice to not be happy and nothing more. On the other hand there are people that do suffer from depression and anxiety among other similar ailments that could very much benefit from such a book, without doubt.
I guess for me I just found this to be common knowledge as I have suffered from serious depression in the past along with anxiety and have done a great amount of personal self examination and work to bring myself out of that state of mind. Perhaps had I come across this book years ago, it could have helped me in that instance so my opinion here may be a little tarnished as I see mostly the positive in things and very rarely focus on the negative.
Regardless of my own opinions though it is a valuable read for those still looking for that uplift in their lives.
Worth a look for sure.

[Arriah Kiprujistho · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have two words for Norma, “Thank You!!!”.
This book has ability to change your point of view towards life on many different levels. It motivates you to relate your life with others and know that people are struggling and stumbling down but you can always rise back up. I am fortunate enough to be reading this book at the right stage of my life (for my own personal reasons) and I want to let author know that it helped me a lot.

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a beautiful book. From the moment I picked up this book, it changed my way of thinking. I must say that I am now more at peace with myself. I don’t think there is anyone that will not feel a certain level of goodness about themselves and their lives after reading this book. It helps put things in perspective, that no one is perfect and why cry over spilled milk when in the long run all that negativity really would not change your life for the better. I am now more thankful for each day, my mind is more relaxed, I focus on the things I want and how I will get them done, imagining the end result in my mind as I live a happier life. This book should not be called turn your happiness on, rather, how to become a better version of yourself. I really appreciate the author for putting this book out there and I highly recommend it to everyone.

[A.B. Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiness is what we will all strive for. To most of us it's a complete enigma and we build goals that will inevitably only provide short term gratification and leave us feeling empty. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to read, "Turn Your Happiness ON." It is so much more than just "another" self help book. It is a comprehensive guide to finding meaning and joy in our lives with planned action steps. To re-program our minds to find light in the darkest moments and focus on what really makes us happy in life. I could easily relate to the authors upbringing and heart-warming anecdotes. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and came away with many tools in my search for enduring happiness.

[Jennifer Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgive the long review! I felt it necessary to do the work justice.

Happy Friday ya’ll! For many reasons, I am so excited to review this book! I was winding down for bed last night when I had just placed my phone on the bedside table for the night, and I heard the familiar ding of my Twitter alert. Normally, I would ignore it, but it’d been an exciting day on Twitter (#PitchMad), so I decided to look at my phone. For the first time, since I started reviewing books on my blog, someone approached me and asked me to review her book! Also, this will be my first review for a self-help genre work. However, what the author doesn’t know is, I also have a degree in psychology, so I agreed, feeling confident that I would be able to give a fair and knowledgeable review. Also, I like happiness. Who doesn’t? Unless you’re green and live in a trash can. I digress. On with the review!

I know what most of you are thinking. “Self-help? *Groan.* Jennifer, can you please go back to reviewing fun fantasy or steamy romance novels?” And for the most part, I would agree, except in rare circumstances, like this book. Every now and then, someone writes a self-help book which everyone should read, everyone needs to read. Turn Your Happiness On, is one of those books. Everyone, deserves happiness, and usually, we spend a great deal of our lives trying to figure out how to find happiness. In this book, the author uses her own experiences, education, and research to guide each of us to discover our own happy place. I found it so useful, I already have a list of personal friends and family, I’m gonna suggest buy this book.

From the working mom who struggles to find a life outside the day to day, to the armed forces veteran whose trying to integrate back into non-military life, to the student trying to find out what they want to do for the rest of his or her life, and even the multi-millionaire who has everything money can buy, this book is an excellent source at identifying successful ways of turning your happiness on!

The author’s genuine voice is heard from the first words of chapter one. Her own experiences are relatable and her education backs up her authority on the subject. Unlike many other books in this genre, there isn’t a ‘doctoral’ tone. The knowledge is imparted in a universal way. In other words, it’s understandable and the reader doesn’t feel that ‘I’m being talked down to’ tone. The author’s honesty about her own background is refreshing, admirable, and effective at drawing the reader’s focus.

The structure of each chapter is clean and useful. Each starts with an attention getting quote that makes the reader think in a broader manner about the subject. Then, a combination of experience and knowledge is presented with a small amount of what I will refer to ‘worksheet space.’ Finally, each chapter ends with a quick chapter summary emphasizing key points. The quotes by Socrates and Plato I don’t prefer as I find their philosophy sexist at times, but I’m never gonna decrease a star rating based on personal preference.

The layout of this book is coherent in a meaningful sense. The first chapter defines happiness. The second Identifies detours to that happiness. The third sets upon how we prepare our selves to accept happiness. The fourth chapter emphasizes the moments we chose to allow happiness. Chapter five relates gratitude to the emotional affect. Six, promotes the power of positive thinking. Chapter Seven works on how to develop a positive attitude. Chapter eight talks about happiness habits. Finally, the book ends with a section of things to keep in mind.

This book really does have something for everyone and provides small ways of making a difference in your life. Personally, I found the sections on cultivating positive working relationships with coworkers and dealing with general life stress, self image, and eliminating the clutter of life, particularly of interest and useful in my own ability to turn on my own happiness.

The ‘action steps’ found throughout the work allow you to explore different ways of improving your happiness without creating feelings of being overwhelmed. I’m not one to recommend something without trying it first! My husband and I experimented with the action step on decluttering. We both had previous marriages and combining two households when we married a couple of years ago is a daunting task still unfinished. I found her approach rewarding and reasonable, even in our busy lives.

A lot of people buy self-help books with all the good intention of reading them and making changes. Then, they open the book, and its daunting and feels complicated, too much to find the time to do. This book has smaller sections and works in smaller increments. For example, the section on “Saying No.” It’s a small paragraph with a blunt point of making a habit of doing things that make you happy and not trying to make other happy. It’s a radically useful piece of information with a clear bold heading and small amount of text. There aren’t unnecessarily long chunks of convoluted text.

This book doesn’t sugar coat it’s advice. Too often, books in this genre try to avoid being blunt. I have a great appreciation for an author who, to quote my grandmother, “tells it like it is.” For example, chapter four talks about listening to what your body tells you is right and not other people. Like I’ve said, this author’s information will really resonate with lots of people. For me, I spent a long time in a wheel chair and had problems telling people ‘no’ if I wasn’t up to social activities. It took me listening to my body and saying no to improve my quality of life and happiness.

The decision making section is phenomenal! All Libras of the world should read this section, if nothing else!

Overall, one of the best qualities of this book is the lack of ‘fussiness.’ It’s great information in a clear understandable way with easily executable advice. My biggest critique is the name of the book, but to be fair, that’s probably because I’m more than a little dirty minded and have, recently, read and reviewed a LOT of romance novels. Still, the name is a little on the ‘cheesy’ side but the concept of the title is followed throughout the book and works great. I mean, I’m not going to forget the title and in a sea of self-help books, that’s a good quality.

So, by now, you’re probably thinking, “Is she overselling this book? It’s can’t be that good. This person must be a friend.” I’ve never met this author, don’t know her personally, aren’t even facebook friends. On top of that, I’m a pretty harsh critic, so much so, I don’t post my one or two star reviews because they are cold and definitely would not create happiness. Add in the fact, I don’t generally even like self-help books, usually finding them pretentious and stuffy! I’m not over-selling This book is the real deal. If you want to find ways to happiness and maintain happiness in your life, read this book. Period. Insert mic drop.



Disclaimers:

A couple of final thoughts that shouldn’t be necessary, but the lawyer in me feels compelled to say:

I am NOT a licensed therapist and nothing in this review is intended to or should be viewed as professional advice as to any mental health condition. This is my OPINION of a book and the content within it. If you feel you are in need of mental health counseling please contact a professionally licensed person. I am recommending a self-help book and that is what it is, help, not a magical cure all.

If you or someone who know is considering harming themselves please call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

[Phillip Murrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book while quarantined during COVID-19. It seemed like exactly the type of book needed during uncertainty and it worked. I'm an author with dreams of relevance, so this helped me focus on writing my seventh novel. I recommend it for those needing a pick me up.

Some of the highlights were the retirement examples in the first chapter. I also loved how each chapter began with an inspirational quote. There were many more throughout the chapters, and they were always thought provoking. I also appreciated the summaries that closed each chapter. I'm sure they're especially useful for those depressed and using the book to help change their outlook. The information wasn't all from the author (established in her own career). There were also several works cited throughout.

It wasn't a perfect book. Two things stood out. First, the action steps were constant. I'm not a fan of interactive books that assign homework. It works for some readers, but not so much me. When you factor in my use of a Kindle, the sections didn't truly apply for my desires. Second, the book was a bit repetitive. The same advice was constantly uttered. It felt like some streamlining could have gone far. Regardless, it was a good, quick read. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another chapter to write in my future masterpiece.

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is happiness and how can we achieve it or more of it? That is a question humans have been asking and attempting to answer since they could articulate questions. It is at the root of many philosophical debates. The only thing everyone agrees on is we want it and it seems to be in short supply.

There are loads of books on the topic and I've read most of them. I like that this one feels accessible and not too esoteric. It has practical ideas and actions steps in each section. It's presented in a style that feels warm and down to earth. If you are looking for ways to add some happy to your day, and appreciate what you already have, this a great read.

[Chad Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turn Your Happiness On is a practical, step by step guide in your journey towards a happier life. I got fresh ideas and insights from completing the action steps throughout the chapters. Reading the book made me aware of all the different ways that I can include more happiness in my daily life. If you wish you could be happier in your everyday life you will find all the tools you need in this book.

[Elisabeth - Comet Readings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a usual self-help book reader, but I was excited to take a look, and I gladly accepted Norma's request to share my opinions about Turn Your Happiness On.

In a life every day more hectic, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and lost, and wondering if our choices truly make us happy or we're just doing what people expect from us.

In this quite short read, Norma sounds more like a friend who is sharing her personal experience, (not only her professional one)than a manual that shows common and impersonal situations. So, in this familiar environment, we feel more comfortable to analyze our own situation and how, through little and straightforward gestures, it is possible to start the change that leads to true happiness.

Norma will take us along an inner exploration journey and will help proposing action steps that will take us one step closer to the desired change.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to put order in his/her own life or just need to remember that happiness can easily be found if he/she looks in the right direction and with a positive attitude.

[Susanne Leist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a pessimist be happy? The question I have asked myself while I read this book. I find the negative in every situation. I don't remember the last time I was happy. I believe it was before an awful life-changing moment in my life. I won't go into the event, only to say I wasn't happy afterward ever again.
I read this book with the best intentions. I want to be happy. Can I? I don't know, but I will try the exercises. A negative outlook that has been entrenched in me for sixty years will be hard to change. It is the by-product of heredity and life experiences. I will work on it, and I hope to see results.
If a book can bring hope to a pessimist like me, then I'm sure others will find help in its pages.

[Joe Albanese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't say I've read a ton of self-help books, but each one has its parts i agree with and implement and parts i say " no thank you" to. Turn Your Happiness On definitely has more of the former. I've suffered with depression and anxiety all of my life, so I'm always skeptical of books that can "cure" that. While this book doesn't promise to fix all your problems, it does offer a way to look at your troubles in a different light. I'm sure I'll keep this book on my shelf and come back to it from time to time, and maybe offer it to friends or family I feel could also benefit from it.

[Angela Panayotopulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet book! TURN YOUR HAPPINESS ON is one woman's heartfelt, poignant, and honest presentation of her own journey towards joy, her realizations of society's illusions and misreadings of happiness, and her attempt to ensure a similar wake up call in the lives of her readers. What perhaps began as an individual quest to find true purpose and the pursuit of authentic dreams unfurled to become a guidebook that is applicable to pretty much anyone.



Many times I found myself sitting up and and nodding along as I stumbled across thoughts that suddenly mirrored my own, some of which had been subconcious until I read the words on the page. Here are a handful of my favorites, but there are many more.

"Experiences we crave today may be
totally different from our circumstances ten, twenty, or even thirty
years from now. Right now, exotic vacations in Cambodia sound
exhilarating, but in twenty years, Hawaii may feel more appealing,
or maybe even a local beach. So, I decided that I really needed to
find out how to lead a happy life while enjoying everything life has
to offer and doing the things I am interested in doing right now. In
twenty years, I will most likely be drawn to different experiences."

"Not surprisingly, thirty years later, these are the same things
that still make me happy. When I’m not in a good mood, I spend
some time gardening, talking to a friend, playing with my dog, or
reading a book. Doing any of these activities immediately puts me
in a better mood. But we don’t have to wait to be in a bad mood
to do any of the things that we enjoyed when we were kids."

"What matters is your reality right now because your future will
build on your present. How do you feel right now? This is how
you will feel in the future regardless of the new house, the new
relationship, being retired, or having the perfect body. You carry
your emotions wherever you go, so you need to be vigilant about
them. Make sure you feel happy right now so whatever happens
in your life, you will be able to keep that feeling. With a happy
attitude, you will achieve your goals faster and will have fun in
the process."

"Keeping things with emotional value from the “good old
times” will keep your energy locked in the past. Collecting and
having things is an effort to feel accepted. “No material object,
however beautiful or valuable, can make you feel loved” says the
Dalai Lama. Clutter blocks you from manifesting what you want
in your life."

"If you just accomplished a small goal or had a small victory
in a discussion where your opinion prevailed, you will more likely
be satisfied with what you see in the mirror. Create and build on
these small victories."

"Most people have difficulties differentiating between what they should
do and what they want to do. How do you tell the difference? You
feel a sense of accomplishment when you do what you need to
do even if you don’t feel particularly inspired to do it."



The one thing that makes me hesitate from giving this 5 stars is the writing style itself. It felt in many instances like an early draft, or a transcript of a speech -- more like freewriting than literary writing. I feel like a slightly different or perhaps more polished style may have more powerfully elevated the writing to match the content, establishing it as an inarguable stand-out modern classic in bookstore bookshelves marked Self-Help and Self-Improvement. Of course, this doesn't detract from this book's lovely theme and many nuggets of wisdom. I also appreciated the incorporation of chapter summaries and useful action steps.

Drawing on her own life's stories, her psychology background, and written with the same empathy and matter-of-factual manner she's likely used to motivate herself, troubled students, fumbling clients, and certainly many others, Nikotowski successfully examines happiness from multiple angles, delving into the what, why, and how surrounding the lifelong act of attaining happiness. I'd recommend this book as a solid stepping stone for anyone seeking [more] purpose and joy in their lives... or anyone who just needs a little reminder/nudge to stay on the right track of "being true to you"...

[Justin Bohardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a couple of self-help books a year, not because I enjoy them necessarily, but because of recommended reading lists from work, assignments from mental health professionals, or just because I enjoy challenging my own mental health belief structure periodically. Normally, I read such books with a cynic's eye, immediately dismissing the offerings or finding small inconsistencies, errors, or other items that I disagree with and extrapolate out that the entire hypothesis of the book can therefore be dismissed.

Keep that in mind when I say I found this book to be quite a challenge to my system and a surprisingly effective tool for creating a happier mindset. I don't think I'm ever going to be a person who flips the happy switch on perpetually, but it did give me some tools to call attention to better re-evaluate and act on the things (positive and negative) that happen in my life.

The positives:
- This book was clearly written by a competent professional with at least some background in mental health. Too many of "self-help" books seem to be penned by someone who practices mindfulness or yoga or whatever trend is in the cultural zeitgeist at the moment, and they are convinced they can make your life better if you can just hold a tree pose while emptying your mind and drinking a vegan smoothie.
- The book is well-thought out, logical, and provides an even balance of anecdote, science (actual footnoted, researched science!), exercises, and proceeds logically from one area to the next.
- The book is very clean and a very fast read.

Negatives
- Not much. The author confused Stephen King with Steven King, but I'm sure we all (and Stephen) could get over it.
- One area that the book does not touch on much is in the area of true mental health problems. I don't believe this book would be a substitute for medical help for someone who has a legitimate mental health issue such as depression, bipolar disorder, etc.

But, if you are a someone who is just looking to find ways to spark joy in your life when you're overworked, underappreciated, or maybe lost a little bit in life, I would wholeheartedly recommend Turn Your Happiness On.

[Madeleine Hecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the heart of this clearly written self-help book are a handful of simple, core ideas. Become aware what would genuinely make you happy instead of shaping your life according to what others believe it should be. Use your imagination to picture the state of affairs you desire. Take specific action steps to achieve what you are imagining. As the Buddhists say, simple but not easy. How, exactly, does one do that? Nikutowski answers that question by providing disarmingly honest, relatable personal examples; numerous worksheet exercises around specific issues; and down-to-earth practical advice. She grounds her ideas in research, giving readers the valuable nuggets without going into inordinate detail about her resources. (She does provide references for readers who might want more information.) This is all to the good. A small negative point is that at times the information becomes repetitive as the author applies similar ideas to a variety of areas, such as breaking bad habits and making decisions. The aspect of this book that I had the most trouble with was the stress Nikutowski sometimes puts on the belief that reality will adapt itself to what we’d like it to be. For example, she writes: “Your reality will adjust to your self-image. If you see yourself as slim, you may eat as much as you want without gaining weight.” To be fair, she rarely takes her position this far. Much more often, she stresses that imagining what we want works as a motivating force that leads to the actions through which we’ll achieve our goals. Overall, Turn Your Happiness On is a useful and appealing self-help book likely to make readers more aware of what blocks their way to happiness and gives them concrete tools to remove those blocks.

[Brigitta Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. This is a book I will keep coming back to. The author touches on many subjects surrounding happiness. At one point in the book, I shared a paragraph with my children, telling them this book is speaking to my inner spirit. I loved the methodical approach for the presentation of the book, like building blocks. I also enjoyed the stories presented throughout the book. They gave the book a personal touch and helped me to see things through another person's eyes. I particularly enjoyed the failure chapter. I now have a new way of looking at failure. Another feature I liked in this book was the chapter summary. The author summarized the chapter so well that a reader can refer to them instead of taking notes. One chapter that will probably swirl around in my head until I get it done is the chapter which addresses clutter. I am definitely getting on this. I found one difficult thing about writing this review - the headline. How do I get readers to see how much of an impact this book could have on their lives as it has had on mine in a few words? I came up with three. I love it!

[Scott Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!

I highlighted this great quote that really made me stop and think:

"Happiness is not a destination that you reach after earning a certain amount of money, meeting your perfect mate, getting your degree, or traveling to a certain place. Happiness is a feeling that you can experience every day."

Wow. I had to wrap my head around that. I realized that I need to put more effort into experiencing happiness every day. I get so busy and then the day is gone and it's time to start all over again. Can it be done? And if so, how? This book is full of actionable ideas on how to do just that. And it's presented in a straightforward way.

While the book does have a lot of material that everyone seems to be talking about these days, such as visualizing your goals, I think there are a lot of fresh ideas and methods to be found here. The writing is excellent, swift-moving and easy to read. It does not overwhelm you with anecdotes about the writer or other people. Instead, the focus is on offering up new ways to think about what you're doing right now, and how you can bring more happiness into your life.

Very interesting. I recommend it!

[Katrina Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review of Turn Your Happiness on by Norma Nikutowski

Turn Your Happiness on is a kind of self-help novel with helpful and practical ways to make you look at what makes you happy. I found this book rather interesting in the sense that it explores expectations that are put on people and the way that us humans want to create happiness for others without always stopping to ask what is making me happy? Is this life path I’m on where I want to be? I think this book is well-intentioned and provides a lot of positive ways of looking at yourself and life, but I also think that like any self-help book some parts will specifically apply to you while others not…

The book itself is about the author’s journey to happiness. She shares where her life was heading. How the path she was on may not have been her road to happiness and that she made changes to create a happier life for herself and those around her. But the book is also a guide to looking at your own happiness and steps to go on a road of happiness yourself. But how do life’s expectations and families expectations sometimes knock us off the path of self-happiness? Can being more confident and decisive really brings happiness into your life? Read this book to find out.

I found the chapter on “Forgiving” very interesting because I do think if we forgive or put aside little things then we would all live happier together. I also thought the woven in stories from the author explained how this book was created and the thoughts behind it. At the end of each chapter, there is a call for action such as write ten goals that you’ve already accomplished or name five positive relationships with family and friends. I can see how those sorts of exercises can help you focus on the more positive things in life and harvesting the love and care you share with others.

The part about “how do we see ourselves?” is very powerful, as the book explores if we label ourselves as kind or mean etc… is that what we become? Or how we act more in our lives? Should we be writing down or telling ourselves more kind things to turn on our happiness? Either way, this book tries to help readers focus on happiness on a day to day basis amidst lives stresses and responsibilities.

I thought throughout the book there was a lot of focus on not letting others make you feel bad, judged or even control what makes you happy because only you know what will make your soul smile. I think in the world of social media, where people compare themselves with others and believe that their happiness is guided by others, this book is a little reminder to be happy with what you have and dream your own dreams.

I tried one of the exercises out of interest while reading this book.

Exercise: Positive things around you. The book encourages you to focus on the people you love, the things you love about yourself and the positive things around you.

So, here is how I see this exercise today. The positive things around me are that my computer is now fixed so I can write. My two cats are sleeping on my bed, their cute purrs and outstretched paws always make me smile. My engagement ring reminds me I am loved by an amazing man and my magic centre with fairies, flowers and magical doors inspire me to write more. The thing I love about myself today is that I feel in a very positive mood. My boyfriend and his family are very special to me and talking to them makes me smile. My mum is a very special lady and although right now she’s unwell her strength inspires me.

So, if you need something to focus on your happiness, start a gratitude journal, read a few positive quotes and stories. This book covers many other ways to nudge you towards happiness.

[Heidi Eliason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turn Your Happiness On is like the CliffsNotes of happiness. Although there isn't anything really new in this book, at least to those of us who are not strangers to self-help books, the author packages the information in an easily-digestible and fast-moving format. Quick action steps are provided to get the reader moving in the right direction, and a tidy summary is provided for each chapter. Practical suggestions such as focusing on what you love and eliminating destructive thought patterns are provided, as well as calling out the detours to happiness. If you want a manageable plan to increase your happiness without slogging through a lot of research and lengthy examples--and who doesn't?--this is the book for you.

[C.J. Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to run through the sprinklers!

Norma Nikutowski put my happiness into overdrive! I was named one of the "Happy 100" people on the planet and still learned so many new ideas to achieve and sustain a happy attitude.

My favorite part of the book was the exercise that had me list 10 activities from my childhood that brought me joy. As I recalled those memories, I felt myself longing to experience that kind of childhood freedom again. Then, to my delight, Nikutowski suggested towards the end of the book that the reader find ways to recreate some of those experiences. I immediately thought of my delight running through the sprinklers in the hot summer sun and realized I could do that again now, but this time with my grandchildren! I'll not only get to replay old memories, I'll get to share new ones with my grandbabies. Now THAT'S real happiness to me!

Turn Your Happiness ON is filled with actionable ideas to generate out increase one's happiness and make it last, despite life's ups and downs. You will love this book!
CJ Scarlet, author of Badass Parenting and Heroic Parenting