There’s a wonderful quote from James Openheim that says, “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.”

This statement speaks to the reality that many of us live in in which we constantly seek happiness “someday” once our prerequisites for happiness are met.

Once I get the right job I’ll be happy. Once I get the right partner I’ll be happy. Once I graduate I’ll be happy. Once I make more money I’ll be happy. Once I start a family I’ll be happy. Once my kids are grown and successful I’ll be happy. Once I retire I’ll be happy.

These are just some of the things that we’ll tell ourselves (often unconsciously) that set the thermostat for exactly how happy we’ll be in our day-to-day lives.

The harsh reality is this:

None of these things will intrinsically bring you happiness, and ALL of these things come along with issues, challenges, and conditions of their own that will likely cause you to push happiness off, yet again, to the future.

If your emotional state is always based on your circumstances, life has an interesting way of pushing things off and continuing to dangle the happiness carrot in front of your face, even when you get what you think you really wanted.

Bottomline, happiness is a choice, a practice, and moldable system within itself. It’s a feeling you always have access to. And there are certain things you can do in your life, starting now, to boost the level of your happiness thermostat.

Today you’re going to hear from Gretchen Rubin, author of the New York Times bestselling book The Happiness Project.

She’s made happiness a study, and it’s paying off big time for people young, old, and everywhere in between. You can be happier now, and she’s going to share the proven tips to help you do it.

But why does boosting our level of happiness matter anyway? Well, according to the research, happier people tend to be more successful, they tend to have better relationships, they tend to have better health and fitness, and they tend to be of greater service in their communities and the world at large.

To make it simple, it’s just a little bit easier to take action in our lives when we have a happy disposition. It’s not true in 100 percent of the situations in our lives, but feeling good definitely gives us an edge.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” It’s time for you to take the power of your own happiness in your hands and truly enjoy the health and happiness you deserve.