Some people believe that having a bigger house, or a better car, and buying the latest high tech toys will increase their happiness. “Keeping up with the Jones” has been replaced with striving to be better than them. But are we any happier for all that we have accumulated?

Experts say only 15% of our happiness comes from financial factors, and 90% comes from our attitude, creating balance in our lives, and from having healthy relationships. Once basic needs like food and shelter are met financial wealth does little to increase happiness.

But, can we learn to be happy? People in Sydney, Australia think so. They are paying $140 an hour to learn how to feel good at the Happiness Institute there. Businesses are offering their staff half-day happiness workshops to improve job satisfaction, and hopefully increase performance. Founder, Timothy Sharp says: “We take people from zero and try to put a positive (balance) in their happiness bank.”

What about sex? In a 2003 study, 1000 working women rated sex as producing the highest amount of happiness. Sharp says, “People who have better quality relationships tend to be happier.” Economists David Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald, who studied 16,000 Americans, concluded that having sex weekly instead of monthly was equivalent to getting a $50,000 raise! (But don't tell that to your boss!)

HOW ARE YOU ADDING VALUE TO YOUR HAPPINESS ACCOUNT?
Take a good look at all your material possessions and notice how they make you feel … inside. Then notice what happens when you think about... and spend time with the important people in your life.

I can see you smiling : )