Best of the INTENTernet: Happy Happy Happy!

In case some of you didn't know, happiness is this week's theme on Intent.com. It also happens to be the unofficial theme of this week's edition of Best of the INTENTernet! First things first, here's a compelling new video from TED on the science of happiness by cognitive researcher Nancy Etcoff, who presents a few surprising insights on the nature of happiness. One of my favorite assertions in the video is that the self-esteem movement and conventional therapy practices may be doing more damage than good to making people happier. A recent article from The Atlantic presents a compelling article "What Makes Us Happy?" in which a lone researcher followed a pool of Harvard graduates from their college days right up to the end of their lives as a part of a lifelong study on what common elements make for a long and content life. If you are reading this, then chances are that you work at least a third of your day in an office working with other people in the company that you work at. Wouldn't it make sense to maximize on the happiness that comes from interaction with your co-workers? Our very own Intent Voice and ultimate happiness expert Gretchen Rubin wrote a great article on getting along with your colleagues on her Happiness Project blog: "Eight Tips for Working More Happily with Your Colleagues." Work is still stressful, cool colleagues or not. Thankfully, Zen Habits shares 6 Amazing Techniques to Stay Happy During a Stressful Project. Now enough about work. Onto more fun topics... like fashion! The New York Times reports that more and more people are searching for fashion finds at Goodwill. People save money on looking good and Goodwill generates more money to support their non-profit projects benefitting disadvantaged people. Double-win for societal happiness! Here's happiness that comes from the pure inspiration of a strong individual who survived the greatest odds: Teen Survivor of Genocide Awaits US Graduation. I'll end this week's INTENTernet post with three more items that bring happiness to this world: beautiful flowers, gay penguins, and Post-It notes. You have to see it to believe it.

• The Most Beautiful Flowers in the World from TheGrowSpot.com
• Gay Penguin Couple Adopts Abandoned Egg in German Zoo from CBC.ca
• intermission: Deadline from Good Magazine

Happy weekend, everyone! Less navel-gazing, more life-gazing for all.