WHAT is happiness and what does it mean to you? The dictionary defines happiness as “emotional wellbeing that can be for a particular moment or for a positive evaluation of your life”.

There has been a lot about happiness in the news following the publication of the results of the World Happiness Survey. This found that those who cared about others and shared with others were more likely to be happier than those who were who were pessimistic about how they thought of others.

What makes you happy? Is it caring about others because caring is “twice-blessed” - it blesses both those who give and those who receive.

The person who is being helped is feeling better as their needs could be being met and the person who is doing the helping may also feel better as they feel they are doing something useful.

So, what can we all do to help ourselves and others feel happier?

We can help strangers who are perhaps in need, we can volunteer for something, for example, clearing rubbish in a community space or, if we have the relevant skills, we could help out at a voluntary project.

Research reviewing 28 studies on volunteering concluded that there was “consistent evidence to support effects on general health and wellbeing” and perhaps even to help reduce mortality. There is also the belief that believing you have something to contribute and being able to act on it can make you feel happier.

What makes me happy? It can be various things. These include being out walking my dogs with my husband on a lovely day; being out in the garden; sharing knowledge and skills with others; and being able to give back for the help and support I have received.

So, what are you doing to help yourself feel happier?

Lesley Pallett