How to be happy

Most people want to be happy. But what makes us happy?

A paper by Stefan Wills, a programme director at Ashridge Business School, offers a simple explanation in the school's journal 360 degrees.

Wills argues that to be an effective business leader you need to be happy: "If leaders who radiate happiness can achieve better relationships with their followers, who in turn create happier customers, it is worthwhile for leaders to reflect on their own degree of personal happiness."

In short no-one wants to work for a grumpy git.

Wills suggests the key to happiness can be found in an old Chinese proverb. Happiness consists of three things: someone to love, something to do and something to hope for.

Something to love relates to happiness derived from sharing with others, whether they are our partners, children or friends. Something to do relates to social activity and for most people this is work-based. And finally the something to hope for aspect of the proverb relates to our goals and ambitions.

The management writer Manfred Kets de Vries urges us to live the Chinese proverb by achieving a balance in our lives; finding play-time; living a healthy lifestyle; and regularly engaging in introspection.

All of which brings a warm happy glow.

Just one last thought though: if the Chinese have known this for years how come they are 82nd in the Satisfaction with Life Index?

Perhaps it's not quite as simple as it sounds.