Happiness

This is what this guide is all about, so it is as well to see what we are talking about.

Because it is such a positive word, it would be a shame to define it negatively, as a lack of misery, problems or of unhappiness.

Surely it is everything you want in life: joy, spring in the step and light in the heart.

Aristotle wrote that happiness is the end for which human beings were designed, saying it could be achieved through a complete, active life, lived according to reason.

Look at the things you spend time wanting: a nice home, healthy kids, nice stuff around the place and some time to enjoy it all.

Few of them, apart from the health of your kids, mean much in themselves.

You want them all because you hope they will contribute to your sense of well being: to your happiness. And wanting your kids' health - that is because the one thing you want as much as your own happiness is theirs: perhaps the single most selfless thing you ever do is bring up your kids. And guess what? That will usually make you happy too, if you're lucky.

Your stuff won't.