Happiness is something we constantly seek, it makes us feel glad to be alive and even scientists tell us it has the power to heal and extend life.
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"Happiness is as invisible as electricity and just as powerful," says Lois Blyth, author of The Secrets Of Happiness: How To Love Life, Laugh More, And Live Longer.
"We can feel its effects and see its impact but everyone's description of what it does will be different.
"When happy people smile or speak, their radiance can light up a room.
The happiness habit is an easy one to acquire, Blyth believes.
"The difficult bit for some people is choosing to step away from unhappiness and deciding wholeheartedly, and with total commitment, that happiness is something that they really do want - and that they deserve."
The danger, she warns, is that discontent can become a familiar reflex and we can drift along in a state of grumbling dissatisfaction, blaming circumstances and finding every excuse not to make changes which could transform life and make ourselves happier. Instead, Blyth urges, we should take six easy steps to get the happiness habit.
Sensing happiness: A beautiful sunset glimpsed on the way home from work or the perfume of a flower which transports us back in time to a holiday can make us feel happy - even for just a second.
"Much of what makes us happy is experienced via our senses," says Blyth.
Think like a lottery winner: If you ever have dreams of winning the lottery, you imagine all sorts of things you might get because you would have no financial constraints.
But, Blyth points out, material possessions are passive and cannot love us, talk to us or make us laugh.
Instead, use your imagination to work out how you can change yourself and start becoming the person you ideally want to be.
Face the fear: The pathways to happiness appear in many guises, and not all of them are immediately recognisable as ways you would want to venture down, she says.
"Often they may look strange, threatening, full of obstacles, too far from home, and generally too frightening to take," says Blyth.
"But happiness is closely related to feelings of positive self-worth and achievement - we need to take calculated risks in order to grow and develop self-respect."
Healing hug: Getting physical with someone can reduce stress and cortisol levels and increase the production of oxytocin, a happy hormone, says Blyth.
"Make a mental note to hug a friend, get a massage, hold hands with a loved one, stroke a pet, make love, go dancing, and generally to be more physical," she says.
Reset grumble reflex: "Imagine what it would be like to have a grumbling GPS in your car which was always spouting negative messages: 'What a shame you didn't take another route' or 'The traffic's bound to delay us'," she suggests.
Blyth advises to try to always say something positive first, before negativity kicks in.
Don't delay: Use a year planner to input tasks you would like to complete. Allow yourself double the time you think necessary.
AAP