Annual Appraisal of Happiness:
Once we have established Individual Indexes of Happiness, we can determine the major factors, which have contributed to our individual happiness or misery for that year. The annual appraisal could be made during the Christmas to New Year’s holidays, or preferably the week before one’s birthday. During these periods, we can reflect on our behavior and determine why we had the score or “grade” that we did. This is similar to students appraising their performance when they receive back their examination papers.

It is good to make an appraisal of our happiness and well- being as frequently as possible, but definitely not less frequently than once a year. On an annual basis, we can then make proper resolutions for the next year to have a higher value of IIH. Our resolutions might be, for example, to take actions, develop mental attitudes, or modify our behaviors or lifestyles in ways to give us higher points (aiming for a total of +100) in love, accomplishment, forgiveness, gratitude, and so on, and minimum points (aiming for 0) in all negative aspects of our life. Since accomplishing all these goals may be difficult all at once, we may wish to make plans to work on certain issue for a given month, and then move on to another one the next. As unconditional service is the surest way of increasing happiness, as discussed in chapter 7, we may wish to choose some kind of service project in which to become involved. There are literally infinite ways in which we can help others. Based on our talents and interests, we must also make our service as unconditional as possible. Ideal service might be in the form of giving more love or nurturing to our spouses, children, parents, and other people in our lives. It might also be to other children and old people who have been deprived of this essential element of life. Our service project might be to help eliminate the tragedies of hunger and disease from our society. It might also be to provide financial assistance to the research foundations or charitable organizations of our choices. I am sure we will never run out of good things to do. Again, we need to determine what is the best service we can render, then do it unconditionally, with a great deal of love, enthusiasm, and graciousness.