Over the last few years, thinking on happiness has undergone a sea change. Until recently, it seemed sensible to assume that our happiness was determined by factors such as luck, fate or genes that are beyond our control. It was easy to believe that, in the words of Samuel Beckett, the "tears of the world are a constant quantity."
But new discoveries point to fresh ways of thinking about happiness, as something over which we do have control and that can be taught.
Happiness depends on many factors, from the obvious, like good health and close relationships, to others that might not seem immediately intuitive, like engaging in generous behavior. Some can be learned or cultivated, and courses that teach positive mental habits — like appreciating things that matter or avoiding dwelling on setbacks — have demonstrated measurable improvements in well-being. The Dalai Lama recently helped launch a series of such courses in London, developed by Action for Happiness, an organization I helped found.
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