TV Scope: The Happiness Formula BBC2, Wednesday, May 4th, 7pm
Although happiness is something we seek for ourselves and wish for others, it is very difficult to define this elusive emotion.
But help is at hand in the form of The Happiness Formula, a six- week series that promises to bring us on a journey of discovery to understand what lasting happiness is. In the first programme, Mark Easton looked at the science of happiness, how it can be measured and how being happy affects our lives in far reaching ways.
As humans we are hardwired to seek pleasure. Unfortunately, many pleasures, such as money and possessions, do not equate to long-term happiness.
Although people in Britain are three times richer today than they were 50 years ago, there is no evidence to suggest that they are three times happier.
Although richer countries tend to rate themselves as being happier, there are some notable exceptions. The programme gave several examples of poorer countries which defy the rule, including the kingdom of Bhutan in the Himalayas, the only country in the world which puts happiness at the heart of policy making.
Ruled by an absolute monarchy, Bhutan puts its people's happiness first. It has banned many television stations including wrestling and MTV, outdoor advertising and even plastic bags in an effort to make people happier. And, according to its citizens, it appears to be working.
Back in the UK, Midge Ure, the 1980s pop star, explored the issue of whether financial wealth equates to happiness. Although at the height of his success and able to afford a fleet of classic cars in addition to his multiple homes around the globe, Midge struggled with unhappiness and alcoholism.
It was not until he became involved in Bob Geldof's BandAid project and came face to face with real poverty and misery that he turned his life around.
So, could this be the missing link in our search for happiness? Is "meaning" the vital ingredient that transforms pleasure into long-term happiness?
Before we can increase our happiness levels we need to be able to measure them. Scientists using MRI scanners and other technologies have identified the "pleasure zones" in our brains that are activated when we experience happiness.
Psychologists define happiness as "subjective wellbeing", so by merely asking people to rate their level of feelings on a scale of one to 10, it seems possible to accurately measure happiness.
There was plenty of evidence offered during this half-hour programme to suggest that happiness may well be the key to living longer, having better health and being more productive.
Visiting an order of nuns, who entered the convent during the 1930s, the theory that happiness can affect longevity was substantiated. Asked to write a personal biography when they entered, the nuns were categorised into two groups: happy or unhappy.
Interestingly, two-thirds of the unhappy nuns had died before their 83rd birthdays, while 90 per cent of the happy nuns were still alive by the same age. Asked to define why she thought she had lived so long and had been so happy, one 102-year-old nun put it down to being satisfied with her lot - the perfect recipe for a long life.
So now we know that having a higher rating on the happiness scale means we will have a better life. The next question is how can we increase our happiness quota? Next week's edition will be searching for the answer, exploring if rewiring our brains through positive psychology can make us more optimistic.
Personally, I'm happy to wait until then to find out!
Marion Kerr is an occupational therapist and freelance writer.