ABSTRACT
‘I just want to be happy!’ Countless people have verbalized this desire and sought this goal. Many people are looking for the magic thing that will ensure happiness and a good life. What makes people happy and content in life? This chapter is an introduction to the concept of happiness and subjective well-being, with a focus on who is happy and why. We explore work that has been done in the field of happiness research, including strategies to help increase well-being. We specifically focus on the role of gratitude and self-compassion in promoting a content and happy life. We discuss the importance of intentional development of positive emotions, including via the broaden-and-build psychological approach and setting value-based goals.
