Happy?

British journalist, Ruth Whippman's new book, "America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness is creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks," explores our obsession with happiness in this country.

After moving from England with her husband to the States she found herself surrounded by a population of unhappy Americans. In spite of shelves overflowing with self-help books, predominately purchased by women in our quest to self-improve, we have become a nation filled with anxiety. We've succumbed to feeling if we aren't bettering ourselves somehow we are failing.

This is an excerpt from a Q & A with Whippman by Neda Semnani, Special to the Washington Post. Whippman is asked "If self-help books and mindfulness can't make us happy, what will?"

"It's common sense, really, and the research is consistent on this: Our social connections and personal relationships will make us happy. The absolute most important thing is to spend quality, present time with your family and friends. Stop cancelling on your friends. No flaking. The more time we spend socializing with friends and family, the happier we will be."

Whippman continues, "This is another reason why yoga, mindfulness, and meditation by themselves can't make us happy. Those practices are all about being inside our own head and having a private experience."

Brilliant, just brilliant!