BE HAPPY!

Happiness appears to be connected to seven things: relationships, contentment, security and money, health, transcendence and fulfilment. 

Despite everything research suggests that we are no happier now than we were 50 years ago. In his book 'Authentic Happiness' Martin Seligman argues that happiness is not the result of good genes or good luck and that we can teach people to be happy by cultivating and using many of the strengths and traits colleagues possess including kindness, originality, humour, optimism and generosity. By identifying the very best in ourselves Seligman argues that we can improve the world around us and achieve new and sustainable levels of commitment, contentment and meaning.

I have always been interested in happiness and I am more and more convinced that these are the things we all need to do to be happy are:

• keep busy... exercise, work and volunteer and stay active;
• keep busy... read, learn and keep your mind active;
• keep busy... play, make things and be creative;
• do things for others;
• do things with the people you love and care about;
• do the things you love and treat yourself;
• celebrate your skills, abilities and achievements.