At a recent naturopathic conference, naturopathic oncologist Lise Alschuler presented a talk entitled "The science and holism of happiness and its impact on patient wellness and naturopathic practice."  Within the discussion of happiness was the following description of a happy state of being: "Breathing a sense of wonder, sacredness, and true understanding into one's perception of the world, into one's relationships, and into one's actions".  

Somehow, someone determined that a person's happiness set point is about 50% epigenetically (resulting from external influences) determined; 10% circumstantial; and 40% intentional. As the epigenetic factor is considered mutable rather than fixed, we ourselves influence or determine up to 90% of our own happiness.

Developing specific intentions is workable. You might, for example. intend to develop within yourself the attributes of happy people.  Dr. Alschuler mentions these attributes as mindfulness, flow, playfulness, peak performance, compassion, and commitment to loving, passionate and intimate relationships. Look to young children for their delight and playfulness, and ability to flow from one emotional moment to the next. Mindfulness training is widely available, and teaches nonjudgmental attention to the present moment. Compassion can be developed through practicing kindness and service to others. Unhappy people often find themselves happy when they drop their concern for themselves and their own circumstances, and engage in helping others.

If your negative world view is causing you to be unhappy, try cultivating gratitude. Each night, think of 10 things for which you are grateful. Express gratefulness to others. (Go to www.gratefulness.org ) for cards and ideas).

If your mind is not quiet, be contented and in the moment with a cat purring on your lap. Note the pleasure you feel when sharing a home cooked meal with friends, or the love you experience in hugs with partners and friends. Savor these experiences, and look for them, talk about them, expect them.

If you have been unhappy with your health, try reframing your experiences. Think back on a time when you worked on improving a current health condition. What core strengths can you acknowledge in your life in general? What are the strengths that allow you to move forward with the health condition? What message are you being given by your condition? Could the bowel condition be a signal that you need to balance your life or develop better stress busting practices? Where is the power in your story?

By acknowledging the strengths we have to deal with our weaknesses, you develop awareness that you can create different circuitry in your brain and modify your mind/body response to the world. Celebrate your strengths and the wisdom of your body.

Emotional freedom technique and hypnotherapy go beyond the mental work and behavior change and help us reprogram reactive emotions that have created dysfunctional responses to the world around us, creating unhappiness. Beyond that, meditation takes us into a nonreactive space within, from which our neurologic circuitry can be rewired, creating for us a happier, calmer existence and a healthier physical experience as well.

Naturopathically, we advise a dynamic balance in lifestyle.  We offer neurotransmitter support with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals, and bio identical hormones. For example, L theanine , present in the tea plant, promotes the production of calming neurotransmitters. Phosphatidyl serine supports dopamine and reduces maladaptive peaks in cortisol. Holy basil helps generate positive moods and the ability to generate happiness. Oxytocin (the "love hormone") strengthens social bonds by influencing trust, empathy, and altruism. Lemon balm brings joy to the heart. Flower essences address the specifics of a person's unhappiness.

The habit of unhappiness runs deep, but it is a habit. Choose to change the habit, and step by step you'll find yourself walking in a different world.

What is happiness? We think if only we had more money, or a better job, or fell in love, that we would be happier. 

When I think about the day-to-day things that we do, why we work, why we are driven, etc., a lot of it has to do with trying to make ourselves happy. It's the experience we are constantly pursuing and trying to grasp. It is so engrained in American culture that the pursuit of happiness is even stated in our constitution as a fundamental right. 

Positive psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky in her book, The How of Happiness, describes happiness as "the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile." She has also analyzed studies and reports that 50% of our happiness is set by our genes, 10% by life circumstances beyond our control, and 40% by our own actions. So despite genetic factors like personality and temperament playing a large role in our happiness, we have an almost equally large role in determining our own happiness. 

Also, only 10% of happiness is set from life circumstances beyond our control, so we truly have the power to create and make choices that can raise or lower our set point of happiness. 

We sometimes underestimate just how much control we have over our own happiness. Moreover, as we choose to be happy, putting ourselves in situations that bring us joy or surrounding ourselves with loved ones, this lowers our stress and changes us on a physiological level. We can bring ourselves out of the sympathetic  overdrive state that we are normally in - the fight or flight mode that amps us up yet can also bring us anxiety, worry, fear, and can cause our bodies to break down the longer we are in this state. In the relaxed, parasympathetic state that happiness can move us into, our bodies can rebuild and restore, we can rest, we can digest our food, and our minds can relax.

Dr. Corrine Wang volunteers at the Stanford Cancer Care Center on the Reiki Team for staff and for patients.

Imagine if someone asked you to spend 5 minutes a day on a task that would bring you relaxation and happiness.  Something that would help you in the most stressful situations and leave you happy and at peace with yourself.  Is there such a thing? And only 5 minutes?

Yes indeed, this is possible for everyone and it's called EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping. With EFT you tap on meridian points on your own body while saying your truth. You get to clear your negative thoughts and infuse your soul, spirit and body with what makes you happy.

Once you learn it and use it there is nothing you can't tap on. That includes both emotional and physical concerns. Just try putting "EFT and happiness" in Google and you will be able to tap along with many practitioners who are demonstrating the technique.

EFT is just one of the ways in which you can choose to create your state of mind. With hypnosis you can decide to move up from feeling victimized by circumstances to being in charge of your own happiness. There are stories we tell ourselves that become fixed in our subconscious as the truth. But that doesn't mean that they ARE true, they are just limiting beliefs.

The great news is that we can change limiting beliefs to reflect what we want to be or what we want to achieve.

You can choose the attitude you desire and how to respond to challenges. So why not choose to have this power over yourself? With hypnosis you go into a relaxed state of mind in which you can reframe your negative stories. And as you increase the positive in your subconscious, your attitude becomes more appreciative and grateful. Your self-esteem grows and touches everyone you come in contact with.