I co-authored the bestselling book The  Happiness Code with Ray Brehm and  additional authors.  All the authors share their happiness hacks   you can use too. Here’s an excerpt from my  chapter: 

Happiness can be a struggle, a challenge, and a lot of work. But  happiness doesn’t have to be elusive, out of reach, or something you  never experience. Being happy means something different to each of  us, and everyone’s pursuit of happiness is unique. Happiness is  something you can experience alone or share with others. 

For some, happiness can be effortless, their go-to way of being. 

Are you one of those people? Is happiness simple for you to  define, have and hold? Is happiness something singular, something  specific, a state of mind, a way to be? Is happiness a physical location, a particular person, a fancy food, an amazing adventure, a  journey, reaching a goal? 

Perhaps happiness is some of these things, all of them, or none  of the above. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is having ways to  discover your own happiness. 

I use something I call Happiness Hacks, simple tricks that help  create happiness in my life. Before I share these hacks, though, I  would like to share a bit about myself. 

I came into this world with a set of challenges. I was born with  flat feet, ADHD, athlete’s asthma, a heart murmur, Spina Bifida, and  an abusive alcoholic father. By eight, I was almost legally blind. 

None of these challenges stopped me from doing gymnastics  in high school, racing in downhill ski competitions, running in a  marathon, serving in the U.S. Navy, FBI, DHS, and other agencies. Or  from climbing to the top of Mount Fuji and getting kicked off of  Mount Rainier.  

I owe part of my success to Happiness Hacks. 

Happiness Hack # 1 – Happiness is a Choice  

“Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you  choose to be happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come  to you. It can only come from you.” —Buddha 

Like Buddha says, it starts with a choice. You can choose to be happy,  even if you don’t know how or where to start.  

And you did choose. 

You made the choice to read this blog. 

That was a solid choice. You’re on your way. 

In The Happiness Code I share additional happiness hacks I use, and the  choice I made as a disabled veteran to run in a marathon, I had no business  running in, that led to an increase in my own happiness. 

In my next blog post, I’ll share with you why I ran in the marathon.