Week 1 of my UC Berkley course is completed. How do we define happiness or subjective wellbeing? Lauren Klein of UC Berkley writes: “Happiness isn’t just about feeling good or having positive emotions. It’s also an ability to deal with difficulties in life, to feel involved in your community, to recognize your own strengths, and to perceive the life you’re living as one that’s meaningful.”

So what does make us happy? According to Emiliana Simon-Thomas: Exercise, sleep, achievement, and social relationships

Dacher Keltner writes: Money makes us happier – but only up to a certain point. People in poor countries become happier when they have more money, but we don’t see much change in happiness as people start earning more than $75,000 a year. These days, wealth but not happiness is increasing in the United States, and 37% of the wealthiest Americans are less happy than the average American.

Social connection is my thought of the week.  Brene Brown of U of Houston writes… connection is why we are here, that’s what gives us meaning and purpose in life.