MoHow  Posted By  Dr. MO  You and I know that money does not buy happiness, yet how often do we act as if money is the answer? We have the habit of thinking that riches lead to happiness (even though we know that wealthy people are often unhappy); marketing and advertising lead us to want the latest gadget or style that is popular; we want to earn more money because then we believe are troubles will end and we will have the good life.

But it really doesn’t happen that way! No matter how much we earn, no matter how much we have in the bank, no matter how nice our clothing or cars or toys, none of it is tied to real happiness. The sad reality is that most people continue to fruitlessly pursue material wealth and material possession their whole lives .

True happiness has nothing to do with wealth and gadgets! It doesn’t cost a cent.

Surveys of millions of people around the world (hundreds of thousands in North America and Europe) about money, what their lives are like, and how happy they are, reveal three common threads among the happiest among them….

Here is what they have in common and to foster these conditions in your life:

Good relationships. We have a human need to be close, to be intimate, with other human beings. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong marriage or close and loving relationships with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy. MoHow: Take time, today, and in more and more days going forward, to spend time with your loved ones, to tell them what they mean to you, to listen to them, and develop your relationship with them.

Momentum Thinking. As you know from my writing I believe that positive and constructive thinking are the keys to achieving your goals….it turns out that they are keys to happiness also. Optimism and resilience are two of the traits of people who lead happy lives. Happy people feel empowered, in control of their lives, and have a positive outlook on life. MoHow: Make momentum thinking a habit. Develop the skill of identifying all negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. Instead of “I can’t” think “I can”. It may sound overly simple, but it works every time.

Flow. This is the state we enter when we are completely focused on the work or task before us. We are so immersed in our task that we lose track of time. Having work and leisure that gets you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find greatest enjoyment not when they’re passively mindless, but when they’re absorbed in a mindful challenge. MoHow: Find work and hobbies that you’re passionate about. Turn off mindless, time-wasting TV,this is the opposite of a flow activity, go outside and do something that truly engages you.

These three simple keys are very powerful.  Practice them and more happiness will be the result….