Defining happiness is not an easy thing. If you google it, you'll find this definition:

"The state of feeling happy." Very unspecific, you may say?

The traditional answer is that happiness is a state when one feels right, pleased, contented, etc. In other words, a fugitive moment of blissfulness, a surge of positive emotion.

If we reduce happiness to an emotion, we find ourselves enslaved to outside forces and events that control our feelings. If something positive happens in your life, you feel happy. But if something remotely wrong occurs, you feel miserable.

Well, that's not the answer I'm looking for, and my guess is you neither. We are searching for a more persistent way to define happiness within our existence. Otherwise, it just comes to binge-watching cat's videos or comedies on youtube all day, every day. Not for me, nope. Numbing my brain out of any thoughts and critical thinking, I've tried, and it's no way to live a fulfilling life.

Buddhist philosophy provides a better hint to the problem. It claims that every individual is responsible for his happiness and can control his perception of external occurrences after mastering his mind.

Then I looked in the Bible for statements similar to Buddhist thinking. And I found some pretty exciting concepts that would confirm that happiness can be more than a flash.

"You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord's renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever." (Isa. 55:12-13)

Now we have two reliable spiritual sources confirming what our soul was screaming at us. So let's dive into it and start building a life of satisfaction and gratefulness.

Perfectionism is looking for results with unachievable standards. Perfection is an idea, which doesn't exist in this world or within ourselves. Chasing it at all costs will only lead to dissatisfaction and self-depreciation.

Nothing will be good enough around you, and each of your attempts will automatically end in failure. The logical outcome is to become pessimistic and not trying anymore.

I am suggesting that perfectionism can curb your expression of happiness. You can reach the required goal with or without being a perfectionist. On the other hand, to be a perfectionist leaves very little room to accept and love yourself unconditionally when the desired goal is not met.

By being a perfectionist, your mind will be forever planning and thinking about the future or lamenting about what went wrong in the past.

The present moment is the only time where reality takes place. Nowhere else will your actions have meaning. By living in the past, you bring back memories, generating a feeling of frustration for a moment that will never come back. While projecting yourself in the future can be frightening for all its uncertainties.

It's okay to consider your past as a learning base for mistakes you made and recognized. But repeating it in your head over and over is just torture and contributes to depression.

The future is a mystery where lies infinite possibilities and potential for yourself. Doubts, negativity, and fears live there too, and they for sure add anxiety to your mind once you let them in.

The present offers all the remedies for your past wounds. It provides the tools never to repeat the same error, and you can start working on your goals for a better future right now. Live the moment.

It can affect most people at some point in their lives. However, for some, it becomes a habit, making their lives more complicated. Just going from one worry to the next. Seeing everything in a pessimistic way and judging everyone around them based on this belief.

Not only do our thoughts define who we are, but they also have the power of attraction. Meaning that by letting yourself in the hands of negativity, you'll be perceived as unpleasant, but more importantly, you'll attract in your life pain and hostility.

Since the pessimistic is only focused on the wrong. It's also an excellent reason to avoid trying new things, participating, or genuinely enjoying the little wonders surrounding yourself.

Staying indoors for an extended period can affect both your health and your mind. Nature offers various sensations, colors, scents, and sounds. All of which help stimulate your brain and keep it balanced.

By staying stuck within 4 walls, you enwrap your mind in a bland, repetitive environment, the perfect conditions for negative thoughts to appear and thrive.

Also, without sunlight, your body is at risk of vitamin D deficiency, a vital nutrient for healthy brain function. Low vitamin D levels are also linked to severe health problems such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

A sedentary lifestyle is a bad habit forced upon us by modern society. Your body is designed and built for mobility. Like stagnant water, if you don't exercise, your body and mind will accumulate negative repercussions that will affect you in everyday life in multiple ways :

It's no secret that the sleep-deprived are usually irritable, miserable, and not much fun to be with. One of the functions of sleep is to reset and recharge the emotional capacity of your brain circuits. By doing so, you can approach the day's emotional challenges with a clear vision.

Doctors and sociologists agree that Americans are among the most sleep-deprived people in the world. According to a 2005 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, about 40 percent of Americans get less than seven hours of sleep at night.

According to the research, lack of sleep can lead to a loss of concentration and memory. It can make people more sluggish and exhibit slower and less coordinated motor skills. Lack of sleep contributes to a weaker immune system and increased activity in parts of the brain related to various psychiatric disorders.

Being fully fed doesn't necessarily equate to being well nourished.

With the predominance of fast food and heavily processed aliments, modern society has failed its consumers. Many studies have proven the impact of nutrition on health issues, yet preservatives, artificial coloring, and chemicals prosper in our plates.

Did you know that if the brain needs protein to develop correctly? Or that the female body requires omega-3 and omega-6, else her body's metabolism will not function correctly, and she is more susceptible to gain weight?

The biochemical balance in your brain relies on specific vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, magnesium, zinc, or potassium to fulfill its duties. A deficiency in some of these nutrients can hinder the production of neurotransmitters and hormones, which can cause stress, anxiety, or even depression.

If you ever encountered and rubbed shoulders with someone who gave you the impression of "being happy," you probably noticed some traits in their attitude and how they conduct themselves through life. Studies and philosophies have identified the constituents of a life filled with happiness.

Life keeps coming at us with a variety of challenges, and you're left with the choice to either let it roll over you or to take action. An optimist believes that these obstacles are not here to make our existence miserable but help us grow, learn and define who we are in the universe.

Optimism is a mindset fueled by hope and confidence in a better future. When faced with a problem, an optimist tends to focus on figuring out ways to solve that problem or turn it around. This way of thinking will push you forward, searching for new opportunities to improve, new experiences, and discovering new facets of your personality.

You don't have to be a natural. With some discipline, this mentality can be learned and applied as a habit. You'll have to consider the events in your life in a more positive light and look at how you can benefit from them. This technique is called "Positive reframing," over time, it will change your perspective and train your brain into thinking with more positivity.

It takes continuous effort and conscious awareness of your thoughts and feelings, but perseverance will bring you the following results :

You'll be more likely to achieve your goals.

You'll be happier and healthier.

You'll be more fun to be around.

You'll experiment more.

And that is the perfect formula for a colorful life.

In 2010 Harvard Business School conducted a survey regarding happiness in 136 countries. The results showed a boost of bliss in people performing random acts of kindness such as donations.

Kindness is achieved by going out of your way to assist others. An act of kindness can take many forms, but the process automatically enables the mind to distance itself from your hassle for others' profit. Not only it participates in making the world a better place by giving a hand to someone in need, but it will also reward you, the giver, in numerous ways :

a) Studies show that acts of kindness trigger the production of hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. These hormones are vital components in the battle against stress, anxiety, and depression.

b) Being perceived as a kind person will attract people to you and deepen your relationships with friends and family. Imagine how being surrounded by people who love you and are inspired by your kindness can boost your confidence instead of stress.

c) According to Dr.DAVID R. Hamilton, kindness benefits your overall health. Oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone," plays a significant part in the protection against heart disease by releasing nitric oxide, a chemical reducing blood pressure.

Whether it be forgiving yourself or others, forgiveness is necessary to create a prosperous and abundant life. It is too often overlooked as one of the blocks to your success. Why? Because we think that our feelings are justified when a wrong has been done to us. When we are justified, nothing needs changing, right?

I want to clarify here that, yes, you certainly are "justified" in feeling the way you do, whether we are talking about forgiveness or any other issue. Your feelings are still valid. They are always your experience. But are they helping you going forward? Do they produce effects beneficial to your goals or well-being?

By forgiving others or yourself, you acknowledge how some wrongdoings have affected you. You analyze it and decide not to let these past behaviors dictate your drive. This is not about forgetting. On the contrary, forgiveness makes you conscious of your feelings and what caused them. You will learn in the process, so you'll be better equipped in the future without dragging negative emotions over time.

Compassion and empathy are mighty companions that will dissolve the burden generated by grudge and resentment. Let go of that weight, and you'll make your life easier.

Forgiveness reduces blood pressure, stress, anxiety, and heart disease risks. It will reward you with better, healthier relationships and will provide you inner peace.

Acceptance requires work. Here you'll work against your ego, you know? The voice whispering in your ear at any moment of your life. Ego is built on the idea that you're the center of the universe. Depending on how big your ego is, it can lead to a distortion of reality resulting in an unfavorable position towards yourself and others.

Inevitably in life, you'll face disappointment. Sometimes you'll encounter little setbacks, and other times it may be great big heart-wrenching disappointments. When this happens to you, a choice presents itself. You can either run away from reality, push through it, or choose another path.

Continuously putting yourself in opposition to the reality of your circumstances will leave you feeling frustrated, anxious, or even paralyzed. Especially during those times when you're right in the thick of it, you'll see your stress level rise if you fight them blindly.

The practice of acceptance can help ease that inner tension and create clarity. It's not about giving up on your goals, and It doesn't mean that you have to be happy with your current situation. Acceptance lets you recognize where you are in your life at this moment, even though it doesn't fit the standards of your ego.

Maybe you're bummed about your current situation, whether it's professionally, financially, or romantically. And you have the right to feel how you feel. But no matter what you're facing, take the time to look into your emotions. Notice that there is an issue, name it and accept it.

It may take a lot of practice initially, but something unique happens as you continue to do this. You'll be able to identify the problems for what they are, without magnifying or avoiding them. At some point, you will gain assurance and calm to find the right solution or a new path.

Problems do not last forever. Sometimes struggles are opportunities in disguise . . .

Professor Robert Emmons came up with some fascinating results from his research project on gratitude and thankfulness. He found that people who kept gratitude journals weekly were more inclined to exercise regularly, to have better health, to appreciate their lives as it is, and were more optimistic about the future. Also, participants who kept the journals were more likely to progress towards their goals.

Positive thinking has a significant influence on the concept of gratitude. You want to concentrate on what you have rather than looking at what you don't have. If you take the habit of consciously reminding yourself of all the things that come your way, you will end up grounded in gratitude instead of desire. At any given moment, you can stop and appreciate. Professor Robert Emmons even recommends keeping a journal to keep a positive footprint of your thankfulness journey. And whenever you go through some difficult times, you can go back to it to remember how lucky you are.

Besides, the study shows that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, passion, purpose, focus, and energy.

Once again, this is not about denying the negative aspects of life or how they affect you. It's more about adopting an inspiring attitude that calls for more positivity in your life. And as you develop this practice, you'll find yourself blessed with optimism and the confidence to look forward to what the universe has to offer.

I sincerely believe that happiness is achievable, and studies tend to validate this idea. But it takes work and commitment. As I chose this path for myself, I can confirm, from experience, that it takes time, but the rewards are here and will come to you in unsuspected ways. Depending on where you find yourself right now, it can be challenging... Do not give up! The yoni bees and I will be here to keep you company on this salutary trip. See you soon.