Happiness is...

The Dalai Lama, a French monk, photographer and author Matthieu Ricard (dubbed ''the world's happiest man'') and Robert Biswas-Diener (''the Indiana Jones of positive psychology''), Jane Goodall, sex therapist Bettina Arndt, cook Maggie Beer etc. What do these folk have in common? 

They were speakers at the 6^th annual Happiness and its Causes conference held in Brisbane, Australia. The event was organized by the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana Institute in Sydney. It is said Aussies enjoy a better quality of life and describe themselves as more satisfied than most other western countries. Good place for the conference.

There did not appear to be any great secrets in being happy, most were perfectly obvious, but what the folk did a lot was laugh, and laugh and laugh. Sleep, exercise and good food seem to do the trick. Also contact with other folk, preferably happy ones helps. Active folk are also happier than couch potatoes. Being aware of the world you live in and being wowed by it helps. Keep on filling the little grey cells, learning is important. And finally, give.

Good words for an obese nation that harangues each other over politics, religion, cars, puppies types, skin color, other superficial garbage.

So, get a good sleep, have a good healthy breakfast, look around you on the way to work or play or whatever, learn something new and share it. Do something nice for somebody even if it is just a unexpected smile; then tell a joke. Make your day and someone else’s at the same time. If that doesn’t work, just look at a baby.