Editor: So, what first motivated you to focus on the psychology of happiness?

Robert: Happiness is the number one goal in life. It’s also the goal that makes all other life goals—like success, wealth, and loving relationships—feel meaningful. So on one level, it’s entirely natural to be interested in happiness. And in my family, my mother had an experience of depression and my father had an experience of alcoholism. Because of what happened, my parents' pain catapulted me forward into an intense search and inquiry.

Editor: In your newest book Be Happy, you give us a front seat to your world-renowned happiness course. What are some of the most powerful keys to living a happier life?

Robert: One of the most important keys is to define happiness for yourself. Create a definition of happiness that you can live by everyday. This is important because your definition of happiness ultimately influences every other significant decision in your life.

Secondly, pay attention to the moments in your day when you are at your happiest. Happiness teaches you a lot about who you really are, what is really important to you, and what your life is really for.

And, some people chase happiness while other people chose happiness. To choose happiness means you are willing to bring happiness to life rather than just try and get happiness from life. To choose happiness means you’re willing to participate in your life rather than wait for your life to get better first. If you want to heal your life, sometimes the key to happiness is to give up all hopes for a better past. It’s important to honor your past, to learn from you past, and to move on.

Editor: What have you learned about happiness over the years of teaching the course and working with thousands of people?

Robert: Happiness is an equal opportunity provider. It’s available to everybody, regardless of their class, gender, backgrounds, and educations. The potential for happiness is everywhere. And therefore, it’s never too late to heal your life and never too late to make the decision to be happier.

Editor: It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of happiness, thinking that a snazzy new outfit, more money, or a relationship is the key to fulfillment. How do we break this?

Robert: Well, it’s official! The pursuit of happiness has speeded up. We live faster, we work faster. We do everything faster than ever before and yet the faster we run, the longer the race becomes. What we have to do is STOP! If we don’t stop, we’ll persist with the search for happiness and chasing after happiness in such a way that we’ll never find the time to be happy. The idea is that investing in your happiness today is the first step to creating a better future.

Editor: HayHouseRadio.com is set to air a talk you gave to a group of homeless teens at the Toussaint Academy in San Diego, California. We were moved by your personal story of the teachers who have inspired you throughout your life. What was it like to connect with these students, many who were inspired by your ideas?

Robert: It was very meaningful. The sense I had was that a lot of the teenagers in the room had had tough beginnings, but with the help of the Toussaint Academy, they will turn these initial setbacks into set ups for future happiness and success. I had the sense that they were a group of souls that were going to use these setbacks to really make a better future. Frankly, I was inspired by them, truly inspired by them. And who doesn’t feel like a teenager anyways—it was great to hang out with them!

Editor: Many of the students were also fascinated by your “now watch.” I think you might be setting a new fashion trend! Will you tell us about your watch?

Robert: I made my now watch for my 35th birthday. On the face of the watch, instead of the numbers, it just says “now, now, now.” I was born with fast genes; I think I learned to run before I could crawl! So, I use the watch to remind myself to not rush into the future quite so quickly, but to be here now and enjoy my life as it happens.

Editor: I hear you developed a little thing for Saturday Night Live clips during your time in the U.S. over the last few months. How does fun and laughing factor into living a happy life?

Robert: You know, the great director and comedian Woody Allen once said, “most of the time I don't have much fun. The rest of the time I don't have any fun at all.” This is surely one of the greatest mistakes – even though life can be difficult, there are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy the journey too. And it helps to remember that fun is not just an activity, it’s a state of mind.

Editor: Between the release of Be Happy, the I Can Do It conference, and lectures here in the U.S., I imagine you’re ready for a vacation! What’s on the horizon after some much needed rest?

Robert: Well, just this morning I talked with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. The response has been fantastic. And, thanks to Cheryl Richardson, I now tweet every day. You know, I love doing them. I’ve been posting fun exercises and thoughts. I’ve also been blogging at RobertHolden.org, and myself and my colleagues are posting significant updates every week on BeHappy.net and SuccessIntelligence.com. And, I’m looking forward to the first ever I Can Do It! London in September.

Listen: Authors in Action with Dr. Robert Holden—June 10