“‘Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and sits quietly on your shoulder’.”
- Henry David Thoreau, American naturalist and essayist


This same insight can be found in Buddhism, where the desire for happiness is seen as the root of unhappiness: the very act of resisting the present and wishing for a happier state of mind is what creates the dissatisfaction one hopes to alleviate. .

So, how? How can we be happy? How do we do it? We get it… it can be so frustrating. That’s why, it’s been the longest quest of humanity, now becoming an obsession with an entire industry profiting from it. .

Here are some key ideas to keep in mind when aiming for a happier life. .

1. You don’t “reach” happiness. Happiness isn’t a destination; it’s a practice, and a state of mind. .

2. There is no magic potion. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Remember: “There are many ways up the mountain and each of us must choose a practice that feels true to our heart.” - Jack Kornfield .

3. One of the key practices to nurture happiness consists in how we invest our psychic energy. When we focus our attention on a consciously chosen goal, our psychic energy literally “flows” in the direction of that goal, resulting in a re-ordering and harmony within consciousness. .

That’s why Flow has been considered a huge part of improving our human experience for its role in living a meaningful life (Seligman, 2002: 249). .

4. Practicing kindness, generosity, and transcending self-interests are powerful pathways to a happier life. Frankl (1963) was convinced that the only way to embrace the full meaning of life is by transcending self-interests. He suggests that such transcendence occurs when people shift their sources of meaning outwardly, away from their own needs, directing more love, hope, compassion and generosity at others. .

Happiness is not a fixed state but can be developed as we embrace our authenticity and learn flow in our lives. Happiness is certainly not a destination, and we need to change that idea for good to ensure the prosperity of humankind.