Quick: Why do you want to make lots of money?

Your most-likely answer: to be happy, dammit!

But does more money really lead to more happiness?

"Standard of living has increased dramatically and happiness has increased not at all, and in some cases has diminished slightly," says Professor Daniel Kahneman of the University of Princeton.

Interestingly... Bhutan, a remote Himalayan kingdom, has consistently remained one of the happier places in our world – even though it is not close to being one of the richest.

Their secret?

Their government creates policies based on Gross National Happiness.

This includes:

1.Banning advertising – because the science of happiness shows advertising is a major cause of unhappiness – creating envy by making people feel “less well-off.”

2.Pushing for more exercise and healthier eating. In fact the Bhutan government actually discourages junk food – along with cigarettes and alcohol – recognizing the healthier the body, the happier the mind!

The idea that politics should be about creating "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" is actually not new. It goes back to Jeremy Bentham, an 18th century philosopher, who tried to get politicians to create policies which upped citizen’s general happiness levels.

Recently Bentham’s ideas have been dusted off and revisited in Britain, where the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit held a "Life Satisfaction" seminar and considered the following concepts:

1.creating a happiness index

2.teaching people about happiness

3.encouraging more support for volunteering

4.creating a "more leisured work-life balance"

5.creating higher taxes for the rich – so there’d be less of a division between the very rich and very poor -- and thereby less envy and its accompanying depression affects.

Britain’s Richard Layard, author of HAPPINESS: LESSONS FOR A NEW SCIENCE, is also actively pushing the government to immediately employ another 10,000 therapists – so as to increase the happiness of citizens!

With all this in mind, I want you to stop overly-focusing on how much money you’re making, and re-focus on how much happiness you’re making!

MY BETTER THAN CASH IN THE BANK LIST OF THINGS TO CASH IN ON:

1.Avoid poison envy. Consistently studies show comparison kills happiness. Consciously re-focus on what you have. Try to end your day with "A 3 Blessings List" - recognizing three things which went well - and why!

2.Spend loving time with friends and family – for both more happiness and more health! Get this: Studies show friendship wards off germs! Just as stress triggers ill health, the greater your friendships, the greater the protective effect against ill health!

3. Live a life with meaning and purpose. How? Appreciate how what you do in your job, and contribute to your friends, family and community -- all matters! Look for new ways to give back to the people around you. Altruism is actually an act of self-interest. Studies consistently show that people who are involved with volunteerism are a happier group.

4.Keep trying to use your “signature strength” in new ways. It will increase your self esteem – which increases happiness. Plus you’ll be tapping into 3 other big happiness boosters: newness, challenge, consistent growth!