It's official - the pursuit of happiness has sped up! We are chasing after happiness faster than ever. And the faster we run, the longer the race becomes.
According to Dr. Robert Holden, a British psychologist, considered Britain's foremost expert on happiness, we are experiencing what researchers call "static happiness." In the 1940s, when people were asked, "How happy are you?" the average score was 7.7 out of 10. Most recently, the average score was 7.2 out of 10.
So what is Happiness, really, and why do we want it?
It's a simple question. We all know the answer, or do we? As soon as we hear people talk about happiness, we are reminded how diverse ideas about happiness are.
hap-pi-ness: Origin: 1520-30; noun 1. the quality or state of being happy. 2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.
It may be universal, but the meaning of happiness remains complex and ambiguous. Given its very nature, reported happiness is subjective. It is difficult to compare one person's happiness with another.
The psychological and philosophical pursuit of happiness began in China, India and Greece some 2,500 years ago with Confucius, Mencius, Buddha, Socrates, and Aristotle. There are remarkable similarities between the insights of these thinkers and the modern "Science of Happiness." Both Confucius and the Chinese Confucian thinker Mencius shared a keen interest in the essential questions of human happiness and peaceful coexistence.
Mencius (372 - 289 BCE) could well be called the pioneer of Positive Psychology. He lays unprecedented emphasis on human nature and the role of the mind in the quest for happiness; he spells out the role that feelings of happiness or satisfaction play in motivating people to do the right thing, as well as the sense of joy that results from the practice of humanity.
In 350 BCE, Aristotle stated that happiness is the only thing that humans desire for its own sake, unlike riches, honor, health or friendship. He observed that men sought riches, or honor, or health not only for their own sake but also in order to be happy.
"Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." ~ Aristotle
More modern day thinkers such as Abraham Maslow, an American professor of psychology at Brandeis University, theorized that human happiness is the outcome of meeting a set of needs. He listed these in order of priority, leading to a pyramid called Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The set of needs includes physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. For a person to have happiness her or his needs have to be satisfied first.
In 2002, the notion of happiness presented itself in a unique way when I traveled to the tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Nestled between India and China in the Tibetan Himalayas, it is often called "The Last Shangri-La."
I was fascinated to learn Bhutan's Gross National Product is Happiness. Understanding and embracing the concept of happiness, the Royal Government of Bhutan organized a Gross National Happiness Commission to execute a strategy for national happiness. Objectives included promoting citizens to live in harmony with tradition and nature, as well as investing in the nation's greatest asset: its people.
Although the GNH framework reflects Buddhist origins, it is solidly based upon the empirical research literature of happiness, positive psychology and well-being. The concept of GNH is transcultural - a nation need not be Buddhist in order to value sustainable development, cultural integrity, ecosystem conservation, and good governance.
Through collaboration with an international group of scholars and empirical researchers the Centre for Bhutan Studies further defined these "Four Pillars of Happiness" with greater specificity into eight general contributors to happiness- physical, mental and spiritual health; time-balance; social and community vitality; cultural vitality; education; living standards; good governance; and ecological vitality.
We can each certainly use these standards to personally measure how happy our lives are.
A Bhutan graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, currently working at the Bhutan Broadcasting Service stated, "The real appeal of Bhutan is that we feel human." He goes on to say, "Maybe we are somewhat isolated from the world, but we feel part of a living community that is not just connected by wires. That's why 95 percent of us exchange students return home. By and large, you would have to say people are happy here."
"We feel human." That statement really caught my eye. What does "feeling human" mean? And how might it relate to our happiness?
Gretchen Rubin's personal 12 - month journey, which she chronicles in her book, The Happiness Project, was based on a number of premises assumed to be foundations for happiness. They include "mindfulness," a kind of no elaborative, nonjudgmental, present-centered awareness in which each thought, feeling, or sensation that arises in the attentional field is acknowledged and accepted as it is. This is an orientation that is characterized by curiosity, openness, and acceptance. "Living in the present," which I relate as mindfulness, "intention" and "gratitude" are a few more foundational concepts.
When I reflect on what makes me happy, the list seems endless: everything from hearing my daughters' voices on the other end of the phone, seeing a shooting star, teaching a class, having Tom's arm around me, being with family and dear friends and a million things in between. I know mindfulness, laughter and gratitude contribute to my happiness. The bonus? They allow me to better handle the sad or tough times that life inevitably brings. In reflection, I truly have come to believe we are in control of our own happiness level.
"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in It." ~ Groucho Marx
I would love to hear from you with your own thoughts on happiness.
Postscript: During the writing of this newsletter, I received a call from my sister, Joyce, in Lubbock, Texas. I could hear the concern in her voice as she urged me to come there because our dear Mother was not doing well. At 98, our Mother had lived a full, loving and healthy life. For the past several weeks, however, she had become increasingly weak and essentially had stopped eating. I arrived in time to have two and a half very special days with her.
Feelings of happiness took on new meaning. Happiness was her recognizing me when I arrived. Happiness was seeing her attempts to communicate her love through little waves to us and attempts to blow kisses because she was no longer able to speak. Happiness was observing her notice the word "chocolate" written on my t-shirt and her little nod "Yes" when I said, "We love chocolate, don't we?" Happiness was seeing her eyes light up when I fed her small bites of her favorite ice cream. Then she fell into the deep sleep that began her journey. Happiness was being with her as she made that journey and ultimately transitioned over. Happiness was the opportunity to share the experience with my sister. Happiness is my Mother's unconditional love, forever with me.
Dorothy Kahn, our beautiful loving Mother, peacefully transitioned on Monday, March 19, 2012, surrounded with the love and comfort of her family.
It was the evening of our big snowfall! Not to be deterred, everyone showed up. In the absolute charm of Bell's and Frank's home, we were nourished with homemade soup and laughter as we shared some of the funny and poignant stories that make up our lives. 
