For years, psychological research was concentrated on bringing people from the negative, to the neutral. In recent years, a new branch of psychology has been founded and for once, happiness is in the spotlight.

But what is happiness? Some consider it to be winning the lottery, indulging in our favorite desserts, marrying the love of our life, witnessing the birth of a child, or even that new car or house you’ve been craving for. But neuroscientists, psychologists, economists and even Buddhist monks don't think so. Scientifically and philosophically, happiness is about living a meaningful life in which a person can utilize his/her gifts and time to living with thought and purpose. They’ve agreed that it’s more to depth, satisfaction and contentment rather than “bursting-with-glee”.

As we develop and strengthen our identities, the pursuit of happiness becomes a rather integral part of personal growth. The following are 5 tips to help boost your happiness levels up several notches:

1. Create healthy personal relationships. Happiness has been shown to be maximized when you feel that you are a part of a community. A positive psychology professor, Chris Peterson, says that making strong personal relationships is a crucial component of happiness. Strong relationships with parents, friends or spouses act as buffers against the effects of the inevitable downfalls and setbacks life throws in our path. So, right now, call up a friend and make a lunch date just to catch up, set aside some time each week for your family or take your loved one out for a romantic dinner. Just setting the foundation for spending time with people that matter to you is enough to make your heart feel lighter.

2. Look for something to do. An idle mind is the devil’s playground. But it also sets the foundation for depression and dissatisfaction. The actions that we take in achieving our goals can easily make us happy. And research has shown that it’s not achieving goals or crossing that finish line that is most rewarding to our well-being. Alternatively, it’s our focus on making the most of the present that truly enriches our lives. So find a hobby. It can be signing up for dance classes, learning to cook, or even volunteering at the nearby shelter. There are endless possibilities of something to do if we make the effort to look. All these activities don't just activate positive feelings within us, but they also suppress negative emotions that may crop up.

3. Perform a random act of kindness. Say "Hi" to the girl at the checkout counter, lend your neighbor a hand, or even set your best pal up on a blind date. When you do good, you usually feel good - and this really works. Our feelings are often a direct effect of our actions. When you bring happiness to others, it reflects internally as well.

4. Exercise. Numerous research has shown that exercise promotes the release of endorphins and many other neurotransmitters that our brains thrive on to make us feel good. Exercise is also extremely cathartic and it helps us “sweat out” our negative emotions and thoughts. So go for a run, a hike or sign up for some dance and yoga classes right now and watch as the amazing effects of exercise elevate your personal well-being.

5. Do the gratitude dance. We often place a disproportionate amount of our attention on the negative occurrences in our life. The amount of time we spend reflecting on our successes and positives is surprisingly dismal. we need to strike a healthy balance in allocating our personal awareness. While its important to be aware of the bad so that we can actively correct it, reflecting on the good is almost as, if not more, important. So make gratitude reflection a daily exercise. You’ll find that consistent awareness placed on voicing gratitude daily will affect your emotional happiness extremely positively.

It’s important for us to remember that we’re responsible for our own happiness and personal growth. Dependency on external factors for happiness may offer only temporary mood boosts. In the long run, it's the internal reprogramming of what we choose to perceive that makes a true difference.

With that being said, it's rather damaging to expect ourselves to be happy all the time. Instead, we should embrace the broad spectrum of human emotions that we’ve been gifted with and not fear, nor be embarrassed by them. Humans are remarkably adaptable creatures and happiness is not forever elusive. By fixing our internal default level of happiness, we’re helping ourselves bounce back much easier whenever we’re faced with personal setbacks.