Sure, Pharrell’s pop anthem Happy might get the old happy juices flowing, but at the end of the day are you happy? Not just moderately satisfied, but really happy with your life? It’s a tough question, because happiness is not only hard to define, it’s also hard to achieve—and even harder to live without. There is no simple answer or foolproof recipe for happiness, but according to Psychology Today, “Catch people sitting on a yacht or watching their big screen TV, and they typically don’t feel all that great, for their skills aren’t engaged. Catch them gardening, socializing, or writing a letter and you will likely find them feeling less apathetic and happier.”
Everyone’s definition of happiness is different and people are equally happy (and miserable for that matter) across age, race, income, sex, and status. So if the formula for achieving a happy life is still something of a mystery, what do you do? Start by taking a deep breath, think about the aspects of your life that DO make you happy, and embrace the joy of those moments, otherwise known as Finding Flow. Then pick up one of these books to find inspiration from the these expert approaches on how to find happiness.
1. The Art of Happiness by The Dalai Lama
This is perhaps the most famous book on how to find happiness. Here the Dalai Lama argues that happiness is determined by the state of one’s mind and heart more than the external conditions and circumstances of one’s life.
Read Related: How to Attain Happiness
