Every year, pollsters ask the world how it's feeling. Since 2006, Gallup has quizzed adults in 142 countries and found a global rise in unhappiness.¹

Could Aristotle help? The ancient Greek philosopher offered a clear guide to a happier life:

1. Face your fears. Life throws a lot of scary things at us. Aristotle said we need courage to distinguish between real and imaginary fears and how to deal with them. Evidence shows this makes us more resilient, leading to greater happiness.²

2. Control your desires. On its own, pleasure-seeking is a path to misery. But cutting out all fun will not make you happy either. Research shows that happiness rises the more we engage our self-control over our urges and appetites.³

3. Don't be stingy. But also don't be a spendthrift. Charles Dickens may be a good guide: Scrooge in A Christmas Carol holds onto his money. Pip in Great Expectations gives it all away. Both end up miserable. The solution lies somewhere in the middle.

4. Give generously. But when it comes to philanthropyGiving away (lots of) money to help people. , Aristotle says it is far better to devote ourselves "nobly and splendidly". And evidence suggests that giving feels good, and we should donate as much money and time as we reasonably can.⁴

5. Focus on meaning. The philosopher NietzscheA 19th-Century German philosopher. argued that limitless pleasure will not lessen our pains - but a sense of purpose will. Research supports the philosophers: looking for meaning is more fulfilling than trivial thrills.⁵

6. Be gentle. Anger will not make you happy. Shakespeare's tragic heroes Hamlet and Othello, are eaten up by revenge and jealousy. World religions teach us to "love our enemies", and science suggests we will be happier for it.⁶

7. Never lie. Especially to yourself. Aristotle believed we should be neither boastful nor overly self-critical. Research indicates both extremes are linked to anxiety and depression. Expert Arthur C Brooks says we need "humility" to "recognise ourselves." Or, as the ancient Greeks put it: know thyself.⁷

8. Don't fixate on rules. Sometimes be "content", wrote Aristotle, with less than you are entitled to by law. There is a "special kind of justice" that goes beyond written codes. This is the idea, also found in the Bible, that it is better to follow the "spirit" than the "letter" of the law.⁸

9. Forgive others. Following the rules can lead us to punish when we may be better off showing mercy. There is overwhelming evidence that letting go of grievances and forgiving faults will make us happier in the long run.

10. Don't do bad things. Enjoy pleasures in moderation, but avoid vicesMoral faults or weaknesses in someone's character. entirely. If you think gambling is wrong, you will be much happier when you resist the temptation. Arthur C Brooks calls this "living" by your morality, "even in private".

Ancient wisdom for well-being - but there is a catch. Aristotle said happiness is not something you find. He called it eudaemonia, the "good spirit" that finds you. It is not life's destination, but something we experience when we live life fully.

Yes: Most things in life are beyond our control. We must prepare to be disappointed if we aim always to be content. Far better to live a rich and purposeful life, with all its struggles and suffering.

No: The problem today is we do not prioritise happiness. We waste time chasing success, wealth and instant gratification. We need to stop and think about what is really important.

Or... We cannot agree on what we mean by happiness. For some, it is the journey, and for others, the destination. So perhaps there is no foolproof guide and we all must figure it out for ourselves?