What makes you happy? Write a list of the things you do regularly that bring you happiness. Now look at this list again. Ask yourself does it really bring you happiness? How do you really feel after you’ve carried out your chosen activity? Activities to be wary of include watching , shopping, drinking alcohol, smoking and . What you think may bring you happiness may not do anything for your mood after all.

Remember happiness has no end point. As such there is not one thing that will make you happy and that’s it, you will be content forevermore. Happiness is ongoing. As such try to do things that increase your happiness on a day to day basis and enhance your sense of worth over time. Happiness is often the positive by-product of working towards meaningful goals.

I always feel disappointed when I see people criticising the notion of happiness and positivity. It seems to promote a sense of hopelessness and an attitude of ‘why bother’. So I suggest you come up with as many reasons as you can for why promoting happiness is a good thing. You could draw on your own experiences, or go one step further and discover the research out there that highlights the many benefits brings to both your mental and physical wellbeing.