  Everybody's talking about it, psychologists, politicians, journalists, even washed up ad-execs are talking about the latest explosion in happiness research. If you are a very happy person and you live in North America, you've probably been contacted at least three times in the last year to be part of some research project. Why, because in the last 30 years psychologists have got tired of speaking to miserable people and now they want to bask in the warm glow of the permanently cheerful. So, happy people have become the most researched group in the world since Margaret Mead boasted of her sexploits with those hunky Pacific Islanders.
And this is good. As my happiness guru Michael Fordyce says, "happiness... the one thing people want most in life, is the one thing they know nothing about." Well, this is not strictly true because after years of research Fordyce himself notes that it's only really the unhappy people who don't know much about happiness.
And what is it that these pesky happy types are getting up to. Lots! They're busy, sociable, focused, purposeful, productive, living in the present and having a blast. They're easy to please, have low expectations about life and high satisfaction. They're not more likely to have children and they're not more likely to be rich. But, they are more likely to be in a committed relationship and they are more likely to be gainfully employed. They have a wide array of interests and their lives are often fuelled by a spiritual zest (thanks possibly to an organised religion or thanks to a happy high they get out of life).
Unless you're one of these happy types, you're probably about ready to go back to your sad and lonely life. "Aaaagghh" you're thinking "this happiness baloney is not for me - "I'd rather be surfing the net for porn". Hold on one second, there is hope. Research shows that you too can be happy by doing the things happy people do; and what's more you'll probably enjoy it. Yes, I know it's weird and I know it's not what they taught you at school, but life can be enjoyable; no it should be enjoyable. Enjoyment and happiness are there for the taking - so here's a start. Check out www.gethappy.net and read Michael Fordyce's on-line book. It's free, no pop-ups, no screensavers, no hard sell for videos and books. Just one man, who wants to show you how you can be happy. Hey, you might even enjoy it. Measure your Happiness
Try this test to see how happy you are. The Satisfaction with Life Scale was devised by a founding father of happiness research, psychologist Edward Diener in 1980.
Rate yourself from 1 - 7 for each of the five statements listed below.
1 = Not at all True, 4 = Moderately True, 7 = Absolutely True. - In most ways my life is close to my ideal.
- The conditions of my life are excellent.
- I am satisfied with my life.
- So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.
- If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.
Scoring
31 to 35: you are extremely satisfied with your life
26 to 30: very satisfied
21 to 25: slightly satisfied
20 is the neutral point
15 to 19: slightly dissatisfied
10 to 14: dissatisfied
5 to 9: extremely dissatisfied
Disclaimer: Harmonious Living is written for and read by a community of individuals with strong and independent opinions. While the publishers of Harmonious Living are dedicated to providing a forum in which views can be openly expressed, those views do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.
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This is the powerful story of the author's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis and how a healer's unusual prescription of mindful altruism - to 'give away 29 gifts in 29 days' - ignited her energy, her happiness, and invited more abundance into her life.
