That is a strange one to write isn’t it? I mean don’t we have this cracked already? After all to be happy, all one needs is Money. This has been drilled into our heads that having more money means having more to eat, more to drink and more to make merry. We seem to make even more friends when we have money. After all it is said that ‘Money attracts Money’. So then, how does one explain suicides of the rich and the famous, the cases of these ‘successful people’ going into depression?

At Memsaab we have tried to understand what it takes to be ‘truly happy’ then.

1. Change your outlook towards life. Easier said than done right? But it is really not that difficult. Bring a cheer in your attitude. When you talk to people, try to laugh. Read some jokes on the internet or from a book and recite these jokes to your friends.

2. Accept and move on – Remember that everything in life does not have to go our way. When you have tried and tried and things still don’t go your way, accept and move on. Maybe it is better this way. This may entail letting go of things or people we love.

3. Learn to take risks – After all what is a life that is spent waiting on the sidelines as others go about reaching their goals. At times, we have to risk a limb to get what we want. We are not advocating taking unmitigated risks. Plan and take calculated risks. That ways the chances of you going wrong are lessened.

4. Be active – By being active or by exercising, we release hormones which are beneficial to our bodies and brain. Also when we are in shape, diseases tend to stay away. Take up some activity that you enjoy and then stick to it religiously.

5. Take up a new hobby – Ever tried cooking? It is not rocket science. There is so much to learn in life and bookshops are teeming with books that tell you how to do things. Sign up for a course in painting or learning the guitar. You are sure to enjoy apart from making new friends and meeting new people.

6. Sign up for a social cause – After all there are scores of people who are worse off and need tending and care. Then there are old age homes, where people in their twilight years are left to fend for themselves. You can spend some time with them and try to bring cheer into their lives consequently bringing the same into yours.

7. If you are suffering from depression, immediately seek counseling. Sometimes people are scared of being perceived as ‘Mad’ and avoid seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist. But this has to change. Just like every other medical condition, depression has a solution and nothing should stop you from seeking that help.