Philosophers have spent thousands of years, musing on the meaning of life.

Psychologists have theorised and written many a book about it.

Management consultants have tried to quantify it.

Even as children, we were taught that life is all about success and achievement.

Yet there's one experience that has driven our motivation since the earliest times, once we got past our primeval survival needs.

In the words of Aristotle, he sums up the meaning of life with just one word: happiness.

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. - Aristotle

Think about it: if we ask ourselves why we take any action we ever take, at some level we reach a common answer...

... we want to feel happier.

But what is happiness?

And how do we get there?

Gandhi defines happiness as:

Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony. - Gandhi

Most gurus agree that being happy requires:

a sense of inner peace (something we can cultivate)
an optimistic nature (something we can train ourselves to have)
and acceptance of the fact that, whilst we might not choose the events around us, we can always choose how to respond, even though we might not like to admit it...

Perhaps one of the best definitions of happiness is:

Happiness isn't about getting what you wanted, but about liking it once you've got it.

What does happiness mean to you?

And what could you do today, to feel happier?

If you're on your happiness journey and would like some happiness quick fixes, there are great, easy techniques you can apply right now, to start feeling happier in less than 5 minutes.

Claim your copy of "5 Secrets To Feeling Happier Now" by going to [ http://www.howtofeelhappier.com ] and looking for the sign up box in the top right hand corner.

From Clare Josa, author, seminar leader and expert coach for How To Feel Happier.