I'll Be Happy When...

No you won't. You may get a brief warm fuzzy feeling, but you won't experience long term, true happiness.

Why? Because happiness that is based upon having to own or achieve something is faux happiness at best. The postponement of happiness until later is the denial of happiness now.

So, reverse the order. Instead of positing that achievement will bring happiness, how about assuming that happiness might indeed create more success? In other words, isn't it entirely possible that you will produce better results, attract better people, and generally have a higher quality life if you claim your inherent happiness now?

Shawn Achor, the author of The Happiness Advantage sure thinks so. And he offers these five simple practices to help jump start your happiness:

1) Meditate for a short time (as little as two minutes) everyday.
2) Write down three things a day for which you are grateful.
3) Send a positive, supportive email to someone first thing each day.
4) Exercise for 30 minutes a day.
5) Write for two minutes a day describing a positive experience you had in the last 24 hours.

Practice one, or more, of these happiness habits for 30 days, and watch your overall happiness soar. You may or may not get that new job, new relationship, or new car you've been desiring, but you will surely get a new perspective on life.

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