We have all heard this question at one time or another? According to a recent study by researcher on happiness Dr. Daniel Kahneman, nobel prize winning psychologist , from Princeton University states that “emotional happiness is primarily social. The very best thing that can happen to people is to spend time with other people they like. This is when they are the happiest. He goes on to say that “loneliness is a terrible thing. So is extreme poverty. But loneliness, regardles of how rich you are, is a bad thing.” Some people may disagree with this as they get immense sense of happiness from solitude.  Studies and results will continue and yes there are all sorts of factors which contribute to our happiness.
My suggestion of supporting people in discovering more happiness in their life is to break it down into their every day living and discover those treasures every day that brings a smile to their heart. Sometimes it is as simple as sharing a smile, telling someone how much you appreciate them, or laughing at something silly, being silly or simply noticing what brings a smile to your heart.  I got my first heart smile today, waking up hearing a bird chirping, only to walk outside and discover my first robin sighting. Yay, spring is really coming, even if the weather is not showing it yet! The daffodils are popping up regardless that it is still trying to snow.
Start noticing those things in your day that make you happy! Sometimes they can be missed because we are so busy looking for the big moments. At the end of your day, write down or better yet share with someone all the things that made you happy that day.  You may be surprised that the sharing may also bring you happiness. You may be thinking, really, that simple?

This reminds me of a little story my brother shared with me not long ago. He was walking down a busy street in Vancouver and was laughing out loud  with himself about something that had just struck him funny.  Two men walked by him and one man said to the other ” wouldnt you just love to be having that guy’s day” !  They had made a assumption that my brother was just having the best day because of his big smile and laughter.  As the quote says ” Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too.”  It really is contagious.