Find Your Strongest Life, by Marcus Buckingham, starts with the premise that women are unhappier than they were 40 years ago and that we women need to find our “strongest lives” and do things differently in our lives so that we are not unhappy.
The author, cites research findings about women’s happiness, but to me, the research trained developmental psychologist, I found myself asking: what women, what ages? [But I’m sure the average woman reader of this book is in her 30’s or 40’s and would not be asking these questions.]
Women in the age range of 30’s and 40’s, who work, are married and have children are more stressed these days and therefore may be unhappier than in previous generations.
But I also know that as we age past our 50’s into our 60’s and 70’s that most people are happier in general. So yes, one’s age makes a difference in one’s level of happiness.
Why all the stress and apparent dissatisfaction for the younger women? Because even though husbands and fathers help out more on the home front, the bulk of child and house care still falls on women. And therefore working women have additional work when hey get home – and additional stress.
With the research on women in mind, the author offers some useful information about how to be happier and more successful in dealing with one’s life of work and home and he writes about seeking and finding your “strong moments” and learning to accept what and who you are.
He also suggests not trying to be perfect and creating imbalance in your life – two concepts that I totally agree with. Trying to “have it all” and being the “perfect parent” or “perfect wife” is a recipe for unhappiness. And not aiming for a balanced life by trying to give all aspects given equal importance is a concept women [and men] need to seriously consider.
The book contains very helpful information on how to find one’s strong moments by looking at what is your “life role” and making the most of what is your strength or are your strengths.
Additionally there are work and marriage-related suggestions for helping women be or feel stronger.
Overall it is a good feeling book and will be useful to those feeling stressed and wondering what is wrong with them. There is nothing wrong with you – you may just need to re-think what you call happiness and find those areas Marcus calls your “strong moments.”
To aid you, the author has a website with his Strong Life Test at:
