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10 KEYS TO HAPPINESS.

Don't pursue happiness as an end in itself. When it is chased, happiness becomes ephemeral, like a mirage that disappears as soon as you approach it. Happiness prefers to sneak up on us while we are focused elsewhere, and surprise us when it is least expected.

That said, there are a number of things we can do to bring happiness into our lives. So here are Ten Keys to Happiness.

1. Cultivate an "attitude of gratitude." Yes, I know it's trite, but it's also true. Instead of looking at all the things you don't have in life, look at the things you do have.

In Nepal several years ago, I was taken to meet a group of people who earn their living breaking stones. They quarry rock by hand using sledgehammers, carry it on their backs in huge wicker baskets to their work place, then sit all day in the open using an ordinary household hammer to break large chunks of rock into gravel. That is all life holds for them.

It struck me forcefully at the time that any of us who have comfort, joy, meaning, hope or a future in our lives should be continually grateful, because a very large part of the world's population knows nothing but drudgery, hopelessness and pain.

Gratitude is important for another reason. We draw toward ourselves the things we focus on most: if we focus on the negatives in our lives, we draw more of them to ourselves. When we focus on the positives, we draw positives to ourselves.

2. LEARN CONTENTMENT. This follows from number one. It does not mean that we should forget our dreams and goals, but that we should learn to enjoy the journey. Stop along the way to "smell the flowers". Aiming for a better job? Great, go for it. But take time to seek out the good things about the job you have now, and enjoy them. Want a nicer house? That's fine, but first enjoy the one you have now.

I live in a friend's granny flat. It is far from my ideal accommodation. I could spend all my time fussing and fretting about not having any space. Or I can delight in the fact that I have a warm, comfortable, pleasant home; that my view from the breakfast table looks out over seven acres of bushland where I regularly watch kangaroos and wallabies and all manner of beautiful parrots come and go; and that our "mini community" situation means that there is almost always someone nearby if I need them.

By doing the latter, I am not giving up my dream of owning my own home with lots of space, but while I am on the way there I am enjoying the journey.

3. LEARN TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT.

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