I'm finished with week one (or quite possibly, I have worked on this for 2 weeks?)  anyway!  ....whew!!!  Showing gratitude or thinking of things every day that you are grateful for is not as easy as it seems, but definitely worth the effort to do.  Now, I have learned a few things about myself so far.  I learned that just because I want to be a happier person doesn't make me one.  I have to put the work in to get the reward. I also learned that being a happier person doesn't mean that I won't EVER get pissed off again, but it may take more to get me to that point than it used to.  I also found that taking time each day to think of things you are grateful for does put a lightness in your step.  Unfortunately for me, that lightness doesn't show on the scales!  Maybe after some time I won't have to make an effort to be grateful - I will just BE grateful. 
Here are a few things that I am grateful for:
1.  a much needed rain storm
2.  seeing a movie with my children
3.  having parents who I know love me
4.  that God gave my brother a second chance in life
5.  knowing that someone in this world loves me
6.  knowing that I am not alone in this world

So..whenever I feel like I'm sinking in the "negative pot", I will remember these things that I am grateful for and become more light hearted each time I do.  I think that may sound a little zen!  Again, not a tofu-eating, robe-wearing, shave my head live in the mountains type of zen, but definitely a less chaotic person. 

On to step 2 of the "becoming a happier Jen" project.
Step 2: Cultivate Optimism. 
Try to identify your pessimistic thoughts and replace them with more favorable viewpoints. Ask yourself, "what can I learn?"
Think about what you expect your life to be in one, five or ten years from now. Visualizing a future where everything has turned out the way you wanted. 

Let's see how this goes. There are so many possibilities!!! Will pessimistic thinking reign supreme or will it become the BIGGEST LOSER?