What brings happiness (besides a cold beer)?

It’s long been debated whether people can really change their level of happiness, or if there’s a “set-point” that we hover around our whole lives.

Researchers are doing studies concluding that yes, we can consistently raise our levels of happiness. And it isn’t likely to come from huge events such as marriage. In fact, studies show the happiness from marriage usually wears off in about two years.

It’s very simple things that can make you happier. For example, before going to bed at night, think of three good things that happened to you during the day.

Results may vary, as they say in the weight-loss ads. But that exercise is one of several that have shown preliminary promise in recent research into how people can make themselves happier — not just for a day or two, but long-term. It’s part of a larger body of work that challenges a long-standing skepticism about whether that’s even possible.

This is something that self-help guru Tony Robbins has been recommending since the early nineties. Ask yourself questions such as, “What am I truly happy about in my life? What am I grateful for? Who do I love? Who loves me?”

Try answering the questions right now, and see if it doesn’t change the way you feel. For more exercises and ideas to try, check out the Yahoo! News article on happiness. Or pick up a Tony Robbins book.