Everyone cares about happiness because happy people are friendly, more productive, and in better health. We always wants to be happy, but what brings us true happiness? Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College, gave an inspirational speech about the science behind happiness. She brought up many great points. Many people today look for happiness in the wrong areas. Money and possessions are not what will bring us true happiness because we adapt to having them. For example, we will temporarily be happy with the iPhone 6, but once the iPhone 7 comes out, the iPhone 6 will no longer satisfy us. So what does predict happiness?

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This holiday season is full of happiness, but why is that? Many aspects of the holidays psychologically predict happiness. For example, giving gifts to other people is one thing that makes us happy. Spending time finding that perfect gift for your aunt brings you greater joy that you would ever have if you shopped for yourself. In addition, this season is full of friends and family. Relationships that involve meaningful conversations and happy people bring us the happiness that we are searching for. Another big part of the holiday season is food! Eating high calorie foods is another thing that makes us happy so eating that box of Cheryl's cookies will result in happiness. But no worries because exercise also brings happiness! So after eating those Christmas cookies, you can go to the gym or go for a run and be even happier. In addition, nature makes us truly happy and has physical and psychological benefits. We literally put a piece of nature in our houses and decorate it from head to toe. Being involved in a community of faith is also a predictor of happiness. Jesus is the reason for the season and we gather together to celebrate His birth. So why do these specific things make us happy?

There are three distinct components of happiness which are pleasure, anticipation of engagement, and engaging in things that have meaning. Pleasure is the least important of the three because it doesn't last. Anticipation of engagement is the excitement before a big trip or event. To the contrary of what one would think, the waiting and excitement is what makes us happiest. After all, "happiness is a journey...not a destination." Going on a trip with your best friends is a great way to be happy because doing things that you personally find meaningful is a big component to living a happy life. In addition, being involved in a faith community builds these strong bonds and a community of social support.

In this world, it seems that it can be hard to be happy in relationships. The secret is that those "friends" that don't make you happy or exclude you are not your real friends. We do not lose friends, we just find out who our true friends are.There are three important aspects of these relationships that nurture happiness. It is important to be around happy people and have a strong social network. Many believe that their number of followers or friends on determines their social status and makes them happy. To the contrary, it is a strong social network filled with meaningful conversations and loyal people that ultimately make us happy. Happiness is a choice! So how are you going to become happier? My personal favorite strategies are finding your strengths and using them, looking for the silver lining, not taking things personally, performing random acts of kindness, spend money on the right things, avoid comparisons, and build and maintain close relationships. Other strategies include: keeping a journal on everything that you are grateful for right now, go up to someone and personally thank them for what they helped you with, read a book you love, get enough sleep, change your behavior, and exercise.

Now go out and pick a few strategies, "keeping [your] head pointed toward the sun, [with your] feet moving forward" and you will find happiness.