Feeling happy - is it natural or synthetic and does it matter?

Today the sun came out, the sky was blue and it was warm enough to sit in the garden with a cuppa. As I closed my eyes and listened to the noises of spring (birds singing, the occasional yap of a neighbours dog, distant music and plane flying overhead), I felt a genuine surge of happiness.Such simple things can bring real joy.

With this in mind I really enjoyed this TED Talk from Dan Gilbert on the science of happiness. Did you know there is a difference between natural happiness and synthetic happiness? I put my 5 minutes in the garden down as natural happiness but am I right. This research really makes you think about your own happiness and what we call happiness!

Una