Empirical Evidence

I purchased a book called The How to Happiness.
It's all based on empirical research and written by a psychologist who has spent the last 18 years figuring out the course of happiness, how it plays into our lives and how to attain it. 
The psychologist and her colleagues were given a million dollar grant from the Institute of Mental Health and everything in the book is backed by facts/proof.
I just started reading it last night and haven't gotten too far, but I think I may chronicle my progress with the book/program here in my blog.

Basically it all boils down to a pie chart.

You have your set "well being level" which takes up 50% - this fifty percent is who you are.  It takes into account your genetics and heredity and it's your "base" level that you return to throughout your life, through the ups and downs and in betweens.  You can't change this 50% - it's just who you are.

Another part of the pie, 10%, is based on your circumstances in life, i.e. you relationships, your job, your wealth, etc.  These are things that can be changed, but really, in the long run only play into your happiness so much.

The remaining 40% is what YOU CAN CHANGE.  Forty percent of your life is in your hands. 

The book, which is a self-help book (just backed up by evidence based facts which is extremely uncommon), will teach you the tools and exercises needed to harness what really makes you happy (for example, money will create happiness in the short term but not in the long term so that won't be part of harnessing your 40%).

All in all, I'm intrigued and I'm going to take on this journey and see where it leads me.

Will I be fulfilled afterwards?  Hopefully.
Will this be the cure-all, end-all to my depression?  No.
And the author clearly states that.
There is no false hope written in the pages of this book.
It's just YOU, your future in YOUR hands and all the information you need to be the happiest you.
She is not shy about the fact that this is hard work [not a quick fix], that it will take time, though eventually will become easier [much like everything in life].

Here's to the future.  Cheers!