All the striving for happiness is not helpful, and may in fact make you feel worse. The aim is to feel content – and it is a process not a goal. Contentment is a stable persistent sense that things are okay, good enough, or satisfactory. It is not a fleeting elevated state like happiness, hedonia, which does not last nor is it sustainable.
Simple steps to feel content – appreciate what you have; pay attention and be present; saviour joys; be connected to others; set goals and celebrate your successes; give to and/or support others; and always care and nurture yourself.
See the article in Elle which cites information from A brain for Life – my book due out in July with ABC books.