SIX BARRIERS TO HAPPINESS

1.) Complexity. We often conflate quality of life with standard of life, but after a point, the connection between the two disappears. Buddhist monks shave their heads because it makes one aspect of their life simpler. Simplify life and we create more space in which to reflect on life.

2.) Pace. The same culture that entangles us in a web of complexity may also have us on the constant chase. That kind of tension takes a toll on our souls and our psyches. Whether you call it meditation, silence, or prayer, taking a pause just a few minutes a day can help us recharge and feel happier.

3.) Negativity. The prison of attachment, the prison of anger, the prison of depression, the prison of pride--if we blame someone else for our problems, we have imprisoned ourselves with toxic thought. Take charge of our thoughts and practice gratitude.

4.) Despair. Hope isn't hurtful; it can make one happy. Daydream; set goals and take steps toward them. Hopeful people perform better in sports and school, have a greater tolerance for pain and a lower risk for depression, anxiety, and heart disease. If hope falters, ask yourself, is it with the plan or the motivation?

5.) Suppressing Sadness. Happiness is not the absence of sadness. Some suffering makes you a whole person and allows you to acclimate and move forward in your life. By suppressing sadness, you suppress other, more positive emotions, as well, so people who try to suppress emotions actually become more anxious and depressed. Instead, find outlets, and you'll gain control over these emotions. Use others as a sounding board (not a toxic dumping ground), and you can help convert generalized anxiety and depression into targeted feelings you can address with specific solutions.

6.) Self-absorption. Social networks are important to happiness. The more self-absorbed you are, the more your world closes in, and the less realistic you become, all of which produces a vicious circle: You become oblivious to the needs of others, and the world shrinks still more, making you less able to see outside yourself. If you have such a huge ego, you’re setting yourself up as a huge target, which can easily get hit. So try to make other people happy; it's contagious.