What is Happiness? The dictionary gives us a definition with synonyms, almost too many of them but in a nutshell all the words represent a good feeling and feeling good is the natural quest in life. But how to arrive there or better still how to be in that state of feeling good, more or less continuously? Most of us need to change our habits!

We associate happiness with when … then. When I have what I want then I will be happy. What I want may be drawn from the well of careers, finances, relationships or more specifically that particular job, or income or mate … and yet those who have attained what they desire find that the resulting happiness is very short lived or eludes them completely. And then the cycle begins again. Furthermore, to quote Srikumar Rao, whatever it is that we can get we can also “un-get” making the source of our happiness very precarious.

Practices Leading to Happiness – there are many roads to happiness and some more personal than others. Nevertheless they are there for each and everyone of us. Unfortunately most of us are not in the habit of making use of them.

First Tip is to invest or focus on the process, as explained by Srikumar Rao. Another way of saying this is to focus on the journey and not on the destination. Make it a practice to start each day with an inspiring message. I often find myself waking up feeling rather flat, perhaps because here in Vancouver we are in a season of much rain and little sunshine but by the time that I am finished watching Enjoy the Ride my spirits have notched up several degrees. Make use of aids such as this video or music or whatever it is that makes your heart sing.

Second Tip is to learn the practice of deep breathing. Fill your lungs with oxygen by slowly counting to four as you breathe in and then in a controlled manner breathe out counting at least to five or six. Initially this may be a challenge but the more that you practice it the easier it will become. Oxygen is an amazing drug and your lungs, the organ that processes the oxygen, has receptors connected to the brain that trigger different “emotions”. For example, the top third of the lung is designed to trigger flight or fright; so if you breathe in a very shallow manner then the oxygen only fills the top part of your lung. This means that the receptors will send messages to the brain telling you to get ready for a fight or to run for your life. So breathe deeply and enjoy the calming effect. It is pretty difficult to be happy if you are in flight mode, if you are not calm.

Third Tip is to move. Movement makes energy flow. We are energy and when we are not happy then the flow of energy is not vibrating at a very high level. Go for a walk, even if it means getting off the bus a couple of stops before your destination or parking the car at the furthest corner of the parking lot. Walk with enthusiasm, throwing back your shoulders and swinging your arms. Go to a yoga class. Go to an exercise class or go for a swim and smile while you are moving your body.

Fourth Tip is to smile. Put a smile on your face, making eye contact with the person that passes you and flashing them a smile. You will be amazed by the response. And it will also have magical effects on you. It will fill your heart and make you glow. A smile releases endorphins and therefore, like oxygen, is a powerful drug. Smiles also dispel energy vampires, a phrase coined by Jon Gordon in his blog and it is so very true. It is not possible to be happy with a frown on the face.

Fifth Tip is music. Music is a universal language. Some very interesting studies have been done with the effect that music has on the human brain. Play the kind of music that makes you want to move and then do it. Move with wild abandon. Remember that with movement there is a rise in energy.

Last Tip is to meditate. Meditating conjures up all kinds of images of contorted positions and demanding thoughts to vanish which in itself is thinking. But if you sit quietly, especially when you have that feeling of unhappiness; close your eyes and simply focus on your breath. Count as the air goes into your lungs and also as it comes out. Do this for ten minutes, no more. At first you can set a timer and you will be amazed how quickly you relax. Relaxing is one of the easiest steps that lead to a state of happiness.

Happiness is here for each and every one of us. Try any one of the above suggestions or try several. They do not require equipment or a financial investment or even an investment in a great deal of time. You can multi-task. Breathe deeply while you are walking down the hall at work. Smile while you are facing a wall and waiting for the elevator. Have energizing music in your car rather than depressing news. Meditate while sitting on the bus. Set your intention with a small investment of effort. Once these practices become a habit, a way of being for you they will become automatic. You will breathe more deeply, you will smile, you will walk with a more deliberate stride and you will suddenly come to the realization that you are not stressed. Better still you are not depressed. You are HAPPY.

Author's Bio: 

Csilla Moffat's journey through life, in many different parts of the world, focusing on various different business activities so she has decided to set up a blog and to write down thoughts, ideas and experiences that have covered some of the roads on this journey.

I started out as an educator in the public school system, moved on to corporate training;established and operated a very successful business in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall; returned to Canada and redesigned myself by learning to currency trade, to write children's stories and now to share my experiences on-line.