Without happiness or joy in our lives, life just isn't worth living, is it? You can probably easily remember three of the happiest moments in your life, but what happens to all of the rest? They often just fade away into the distance.

Increasing your happiness and enhancing the joy you feel is something that can be done by several different means. I have personally discovered how to do this and I was at times astonished by how easy it is once you make the conscious decision to be happier.

Here are 3 steps to happiness and loving the life you live. These are very simple steps that everyone can use. We often believe that something complex needs to happen, when in fact it is quite simple.

1. Exercise. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which relaxes you and makes you happier. There is a reason why fit and healthy people are also happier people. Many do not like exercise, but that is just because you have not discovered your favorite form yet. Also remember that the first 2-3 weeks are the hardest when you begin something new, then it becomes a pattern!

2. Meditation has been shown to improve your mood, immune system, lower your blood pressure and a host of different things. It effectively lowers the stress hormone cortisol according to a recent study. Meditation can be as simple as lying down on your back and breathing for 10-15 minutes.

3. Nutrition has never been more important than it is now. Researchers are discovering that an alarming amount of people today are deficient in many of the nutrients that control your brain and many chemical processes. This can throw you into a depression and severely hamper your ability to feel happiness. Finding a really good multivitamin and omega-3 fish oil has the potential to improve your mood tremendously.