While there’s no magic, one-size-fits-all solution for building a happier, healthier, more creative, and more productive life, a few key elements stand out:

Self-knowledge.  We must know ourselves—our temperament, our interests, our values. The better we know ourselves, the more readily we can construct a life that will work for us. 

Relationships. Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists agree: a key to happiness is strong relationships with other people. We need enduring, intimate bonds; we need to feel like we belong; we need to be able to confide; we need to be able to receive and give support.

To be happier, we need to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth. In other words, we should try to create opportunities to feel positive emotions, eliminate sources of negative emotions, pursue a life that reflects our values, and find experiences of growth, learning, and teaching. Happiness isn’t something that happens to us; it’s a state we can seek to foster.