Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.
Omar Khayyam

Defining Happiness

Understanding the meaning of happiness has been a recurring interest across human history. From ancient Greek philosophers to modern social scientists, the pursuit of understanding happiness continues. Yet, we all know when we are happy and when we are not.
However we define happiness, wanting to be a happy is a great aspiration and a terrible goal, as our emotions can be and are derailed and changed by events outside of our control. So, instead of pursuing emotions, it's maybe better to do, to be and to have the things that lead to happiness, as well as all the other emotions, and let the emotions take care of themselves.

Resilience

There is a lot of evidence which suggests that happy people are more resilient, and resilient people are generally happier. It makes sense, therefore, to work on our resilience, and let the emotions take care of themselves. This includes:

• focussing on a healthy, balanced diet
• exercising regularly
• getting a good night's sleep
• having purpose, direction in your life
• being part of positive relationships with others
• expressing gratitude for the successes and positives in life

Nature

Spending time in and with nature is shown to have significant benefits for our physical and mental health. From tending to our garden or looking after our houseplants to walking in the park and hiking through woods and mountains, it is all good for us.
So, make time for nature. Hug a tree. Grow something. And your physical and mental health will thank you.

People

It's all about building better connections with people, and making sure that the connections that we do make are more significant and meaningful. This includes:

• spending time with happy, positive people
• holding deeper conversations
• actively listening
• focussing on genuine smiles
• being altruistic towards others

Attitude

Telling yourself to change your attitude is far from helpful. There are, though, two things that you can do which can shift your attitude into seeing far more positives in life.

• Spend time on celebrating the victories of each day, however seemingly insignificant the victory. From a major family or work success to a lovely cup of tea, it's all good and it all went well.
• Spend time each day to say thank you. Thank you for the positives, thank you for the support, thank you for the smile, and on the list goes.

Renewal

We live in a busy world, with multiple demands on our time, endless sensory input, and a culture in which seeming to be doing nothing is not acceptable. There is, though, growing evidence that we neglect ourselves at our peril.
Find time for you, time to recharge, time to lose yourself in something that rewards and fulfils you, time to be with yourself for the sole purpose of renewing. And find time for this every day, every week, every moth, every year.

Plans

Have a plan for today, for tomorrow, for next week, for next month, for next year, for 5 years' time, for 10 years' time. Make your plans real and compelling, make your plans for a future with more options and choices, a future which is more. A future in which you are differently.
Focus on the process rather than the outcome.. Getting what you want is great. Equally, though, getting towards what you want can be just as good.