There is no pill for happiness, though many marketers try to convince us otherwise. Buy this car, get that job, make more money, flaunt these shoes, take that exotic vacation…And on, and on, and on. Granted, these things can be nice—very nice—but are they the answer to happiness? If so, why has the rate of depression been steadily on the rise?

One of the hardest decisions you'll ever make in life is deciding to improve for the benefit of yourself and not for others. Sure, we change for others all the time. We've been programmed to do so. At times this can be a good thing, but when that change prevents you from being who you really are or who you can become, then you have a problem. And ain't nobody got time for more problems. 

This is part one of a 2-part series discussing 6 Ways to Practice Happiness.