It’s happiness time!

I had a blast writing this feature for Health magazine’s July/August 2012 issue about how to pinpoint your passion—by which I mean your non-work, deep in your soul, smile on your face in your free time, kind of passion.

The story features great advice from people I look up to who I was lucky enough to interview, including Martha Beck, my psychology crush Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., positive psychology guru Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. and life coach Cheryl Richardson.

You can read the full story on How to Find Your Passion here on Health.com.

—Amy

My friend Nicole Argento wrote a wonderful take on Bright Side Up on her blog Truth + Fairytales — illustrated with a gorgeous collage she made about what she sees when she thinks of living by the book.

I think her piece is beautiful and her blog is a happy place full of inspiring, life-affirming stories, quotes and designs. Read it and you’ll see!

Big love,

Amy

I don’t think I told you here! Check out the February 2012 issue of O Magazine and you’ll see that Bright Side Up made #3 on Oprah’s list of “10 Titles to Pick Up Now.”

I think you should take her advice, don’t you? Pre-order a copy of Bright Side Up on Amazon.com, or find one on bookshelves near you beginning February 7th. Happy reading!

—Amy

If I could hug a review of a book, I would hug this one. A big bear hug.

Judy Dutton, who writes the Brain Candy blog at Psychology Today wrote about Bright Side Up on her blog for the magazine. And I think it’s a wonderful summary of the essence of the book.

Read the review on PsychologyToday.com.

As Judy writes,

“Thanks to the brain’s ‘neuroplasticity,’ Spencer argues that we can rewire our brain to think more positively—then she gives plenty of concrete ways to give it a whirl . . . Spencer also provides plenty of stories from her own life—some hilarious, others heart wrenching—that illustrate how this advice has helped her through her harder moments, and her warm, engaging tone will make you feel like you’ve got a new best friend in your corner, cheering you on. If you need a little boost—and who doesn’t?—this book is filled with easy, actionable advice, and is fun reading to boot.” —Judy Dutton, Psychology Today

Check out more about Bright Side Up on Amazon.com or through other booksellers you love!

So how about it: The secret to happiness is out. Let’s all start living Bright Side Up!

Big love,

Amy

Drum roll please…

My second book, Bright Side Up: 100 Ways to Be Happier Right Now, will be released on February 7—which is just two weeks away! Which means that if you want to get the book as soon as possible, you can pre-order it today on Amazon.com or on BarnesandNoble.com!

Bright Side Up is like a guide for “emergency optimism.” When you get a flat tire, when your computer crashes, when your relationship ends, when you gain 10 pounds—these are 100 practical strategies for seeing those day-to-day negative experiences from a more positive place. Because it’s not what happens to us that matters for our happiness, but how we see, feel and experience what happens to us.

Which means you don’t have to re-invent your life to be happier! You don’t need a bigger house, a new car or expensive shoes, you just need to see what you have in front of you from a more positive perspective. Really, you don’t have to change your life itself to be happier—you just need to change how you look at the life you have.

I am so proud of this book, and I’m certain it will help change how you see your life for the better. Here’s to turning the bright on, one idea at a time.

—Amy

More fabulous news…

Another great magazine, another endorsement for Bright Side Up: 100 Ways to Be Happier Right Now!

Check out the February 2012 issue of Self Magazine. They say, if you want to love your month, pick up Bright Side Up help you do it!

—Amy

I had a blast interviewing the February 2012 cover star of Health magazine for this month: Eva Longoria.

Partly because I think she’s a hilarious actress. Partly because I’m inspired by her activism and charity work which she somehow squeezes into her already busy life as a successful businesswoman. And partly because she’s as much of an optimist as I am!

Eva has a positivity that’s addictive and essentially lives her life Bright Side Up—much like my new book! So it was fun to hear her talk about how she’s been able to flip the tough times in her life into good ones by seeing her experiences from a more positive perspective.

Check out my full interview with Eva Longoria on Health.com, which is also featured as “Eva’s Happy Life Moves” on CNN.com and TheHuffingtonPost.com. (We really got around this month!)

I hope her happy life moves inspire you!

—Amy