Humans have pondered what happiness is and how to achieve it since ancient times. Aristotle linked living a virtuous life to happiness, Middle Age philosophers said happiness comes from the love of God, and in the 18th century, Jeremy Bentham pushed the belief that happiness is found in personal pleasures.
Some contemporary writers look at happiness more broadly as a mindset. Whereas joy can be defined as temporary waves of delight, happiness is the ability to wake up knowing your day will be filled with opportunities to live with purpose and gratitude. Then during the day, your happiness grows when you are attentive to what brings satisfaction and appreciation, whether resting under a tree or working with others in a profession.
The sad reality is that so many people feel they are not worthy of happiness and give up the pursuit. Some people feel it is selfish to seek personal happiness as if it were always at the expense of other people’s desires.
Carl Barney, author of The Happiness Experiment, thinks happiness is too important to ignore or leave to chance.3 In his book, Barney argues that happiness is how we measure our quality of life. He says knowing what makes you feel good, not just in the moment, but what relationships, activities, or routines help you feel grounded, grateful, or inspired, forms your identity and approach to life.
Happiness isn’t about seeking feel-good moments. It’s about living a life aligned with your values—one that feels meaningful, energising, and fulfilling.
Waiting for vs. creating happiness
Barney suggests we spend time planning for happiness. We plan for careers, marriage, children, retirement, and even what we’ll eat next week. But most people do not make a concrete plan for happiness.
We tend to treat happiness as a byproduct—a bonus that comes after we’ve checked off everything else on the life list. Get the degree. Land the job. Start the family. Buy the house. Then, we assume happiness will appear. We fall prey to the “arrival fallacy”—the belief that we’ll be happy once we reach a particular milestone.4
While life events like promotions or big purchases might boost mood temporarily, they rarely lead to sustained increases in well-being. The truth is that happiness isn’t something we “find” once everything else is in place. It’s something we plan for and cultivate so it becomes a sustaining factor in our lives.
Barney created a “happiness plan” after a near-death experience prompted him not to wait until he died to share his wealth. He decided that instead of bequests, he would give “pre-quests” or happiness grants—large inheritances provided to 20 people important to him while he was still alive. The stipulation to receive the money was that they couldn’t save it or give any of it away to others. They had to spend it on their own happiness.
Each recipient was given a happiness coach to work with to discover and compose their happiness plan. The Happiness Experiment describes how the recipients reacted to their grants, and then realised they were not good at defining what made them happy. As they started developing their plans, their perspectives on what true happiness is for them changed forever, along with their lives.
The Happiness Plan
A happiness plan supports your emotional and psychological well-being. It starts with curiosity. Here are some steps to use in your plan.
1. Conduct a happiness inventory
Look back over the past month. When did you feel most alive? What were you doing that created these peak moments? Who were you with? What personal characteristics did you call on that made the moments meaningful? Conversely, what drained you? The goal is to identify patterns, both positive and negative.
2. Assess your daily life
Now ask yourself: Are the things that give me a sense of fulfilment and pleasure present in my daily life? You might find you have many moments you are grateful for without realising it. Take note of these moments so you can ensure you plan your days to repeat these activities regularly. Or you might find your moments of happiness are sporadic and you need to schedule to have more of what you most enjoy, such as creative time, social connection, or nature walks.
3. Set small, specific intentions
You don’t have to drastically change your life unless you choose to. Start by scheduling 20 minutes for what gives you full-hearted pleasure each day. Give yourself a variety of activities that include supporting your health, being with friends, deepening your spirituality, appreciating your environment, or indulging in your simple pleasures, such as reading a book or working in your garden. Intentional activities—especially those that involve connection, gratitude, or personal growth—will boost your happiness.
4. Track and reflect on your activities
Treat your happiness plan like an evolving experiment. Journal your progress. Don’t focus on missed appointments with yourself. Acknowledge when you gave yourself the gift of happiness. You might even discover that what you thought would make you happy isn’t that important to you anymore. Adjust your schedule as your values, habits, and desires shift with time.
5. Maintain your balance
Happiness planning doesn’t mean ignoring responsibilities—it means bringing your best self to them. When your life feels more meaningful and satisfying, you’re more resilient, present, and engaged with all of your tasks.
You deserve to be happy
Happiness isn’t a frivolous pursuit. You don’t have to earn the right to be happy. Happiness is the texture of your everyday life. You accomplish more when you are happy, and your mood spreads to those around you.
Be intentional about happiness. Update your calendar and revisit your one-, three-, or five-year plan. Put happiness in your present life and secure it for your future.
