According to a new Gallup poll published in The World Global Happiness Report, if you are a Canadian your happiness index is 6.9 out of 10 (maximum happiness), if American, 6.7. Canada placed 15th among countries and the U.S. 23rd.

The happiest countries are Finland (7.7), Denmark (7.6), and Iceland (7.5). Interestingly, in both the U.S. and Canada, as well as in northern Europe, the older generation is significantly happier than the younger one.

Happiness, much like love, is one of the emotions and experiences in human life that is highly valued yet, in some ways, the most elusive. Turning to the academic literature for assistance to address this riddle, it becomes quickly apparent that happiness is complex and cannot be defined or measured by just one dimension.

Subjective well-being is a very active area of research, with about 170,000 articles and books published on the topic in the past 15 years. The studies show that certain factors—personality, health, social relationships, religious belief and employment—are strongly and positively associated with happiness. The most reliable predictors of life satisfaction are the personality traits of extraversion, conscientiousness, and emotional stability.

In addition to these traits, largely inherited genetically, are childrearing, education, and culture; lifestyle choices including healthy diet and exercise on the positive side; and, on the negative side, spending too much time watching TV or on the computer, alcoholism, and substance addictions.

All studies agree that fostering one’s physical and mental health increases a........

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