Happiness

It seems so frivolous a topic, and yet there it is: happiness. If you think of the mysteries of the mind, especially the "twisted" mind, as psychology's primary area of interest, you need to think again. William James, author of the first psychology text book (at least in America) and brother to Henry James (in case you need that information for Jeopardy) said, "how to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do." Aristotle would agree. So would the Dalai Lama.

What do you think? Is the desire for happiness behind all of our strivings and yearnings? What are some characteristics of happy people? Are they healthy and wealthy? Are they all in relationships with soul mates? Are they religious? Is happiness something everyone can actively pursue and gain?