THE SURPRISINGLY SIMPLE Science of Happiness

Looking to find your happy? Turns out that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is closer than you think

- Sarah Rodrigues

What makes people happy? Is it money and possessions? Is it success and recognition? Is it knowledge and experience? Is it the love and appreciation of others?

According to Aristotle, an Ancient Greek philosopher from the 4th century BC, 'happiness depends upon ourselves.' Given that it was already recognised, thousands of years ago, that happiness is personal and that, moreover, it can be personally created, isn't it surprising that many people today still look to external factors to measure or prove their happiness?

Of course, happiness, genuine happiness, is not something that can be faked - but it can be brought into existence by simple, accessible and everyday actions and behaviours. According to the late psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, achieving happiness and wellbeing is a science, and anyone can reach this goal via 'flow' - that is, activities that bring people pleasure for pleasure's sake, without the additional allure of material reward. To overcome the "anxieties and depressions of contemporary life, individuals must become independent of the social environment to the degree that they no longer respond exclusively in terms of its rewards and punishments," he said. "To achieve such autonomy, a person has to learn to provide rewards to [themselves and develop the ability to find enjoyment and purpose regardless of external circumstances."