Karis On Happiness.

This week we uploaded the new Artful album ‘Happy Harry’ and Bing Bang Boom’s ‘Comedy Rocks 1’ so talk in our office turned to the concept of happiness. What is happiness? It’s a question that many of us might find ourselves asking, especially when the buses go on strike or when Waitrose runs out of quinoa. I mean, who really questions their happiness when they are actually content? Because when we are happy, we almost become blinded and deep thought into our inner emotions isn’t always necessary. But that is simply one opinion. I feel happiness is something different to each and every one of us.

In the lead up to next Monday known as Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year, ITV’s This Morning is keeping spirits high with a week of happiness. There are some interesting views discussed and even some dissecting of a "happiness cake". I'm not entirely sure what a happiness cake is, but it sounds pretty tasty. Professor Paul Dolan sums everything up quite nicely by suggesting a fulfilling life is found by having a healthy balance between things that are purposeful and things that are pleasurable.

If we go by society’s ideals of happiness, we may find contentment in obtaining our perfect career, finding the one we love and starting a beautiful family. But happiness may be found at the top of mountains, by the bluest of waters or even in the purchase of a new Macbook (we definitely didn't just get a brand spanking new Macbook this morning, we promise). It may be found in spending time with others or spending time alone. A conclusive point that links all of these different scenarios together is that when we are happy there is no better feeling.

And what’s better is this euphoric feeling can be prolonged by that wonderful thing called music. Everyone has been there. You've just come back from your amazing holiday. You've just spent a long weekend being smelly, but oh-so-happy, at a festival. You’re suffering post- amazingness blues and you just want to be back there. You pop on that little track that reminds you of that place - all of a sudden these memories come flooding back and you find yourself smiling like a weirdo in the corner. Or maybe the happiness doesn't have any personal significance and it is just simply the toe-tapping melody of the song that gets you going. It worked for Pharell…

Me looking all happy at Latitude.

We did a poll in the office to determine what makes everyone happy. Everybody’s joyousness stemmed from totally different things though there was a common denominator amongst all: Everyone was happy when Christoph’s smiley face walked through the door in the morning because they know he’s the man who makes the cuppas!