Everyone wants to be happy and live a significant and satisfying life. It is something we all want to achieve . Happiness is subjective it is very different from individual to individual some may need material things to make them happy like having a big house, an expensive auto or having lots of money. But occasionally having what we believed we wanted isn't really enough we are still'unhappy' one reason for this is we homo sapiens always wants more we are never delighted or satisfied of what we have it is in our nature to always want something we do not have this is one of the reasons why hubbies cheat, why people steals, why the rich still wants to be richer.

I had a similar problem, initially I presumed having a family, a house a car, a stable life would make me happy but when I achieved all this things still wanted some other things, I kept on wanting more. It seems we are in a neverending pursuit of happiness. We really spend more time trying to reach our objective and be happy than experiencing it and that's a sad thing, it is one of the ironies of life.

A few months gone my sister wanted me to accompany her to seminar held by one of her friends. I did not want to go but luckily i did. The theme of the convention was'Positive Thinking : the way to happiness'. They discussed about looking within you and asking yourself what really makes us happy and comparing it to what we think makes us happy. I'm not actually one of those soul searching kind of guy I am more like the systematic type but that seminar got me to start considering the systematic view of positive thinking so I did a bit of research and a found Positive Psychology. It is a recent branch of psychology that studies the strengths and virtues that enable people and communities to prosper. This is a relatively new field that examines how ordinary people can become happier and more satisfied. What got me hook into this is that it throws illumination on what makes us happy, the pursuit of happiness, and how we will be able to live more satisfying, gratifying lives, by positive thinking, straightforward yet powerful.

I have always been fascinated with psychology, going inside races mind studying their behaviour dissecting their thoughts and dreams. So I thought to myself why don't you make myself my own test subject and use this to help me know more about myself ('scientifically' ) and maybe find answers or answers to my questions I would even be ready to help out a few others and so far it has helped me put things in perspective therefore enabling me to leave a happier and more satisfying life, I really would suggest to give this a try, just follow its guiding principles and help it steer you.

So let me give you a short top level view of what Positive Psychology is. According to school of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center :

'Positive Psychology has 3 central concerns : positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. Understanding positive feelings comprises the study of contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and wish for the future. Understanding positive individual features consists of the study of the strengths and virtues,eg the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, creativeness, curiosity, integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self control, and wisdom. Understanding positive establishments comprise the study of the strengths that foster better communities, for example justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance.'
It stresses the strengths and affirmative points toward bring a person to an emotionally receptive state. This suggests focusing on what we are good at rather not mourning for what we're not. In addition, Positive psychology concentrates on positive emotions, strengths, and good mental health. And to be happy, we need good mental health.

So, instead of setting your minds on what you are not and what you don't have set your minds on what you are and what you have.