One of the absolute basics of happiness is security. It’s impossible to feel really happy if you don’t feel safe. And that doesn’t just apply to physical safety but also emotional security. What you want is a good, solid support network so you know that if things go wrong in life you have somewhere to turn, someone who will catch you if you fall.

You might have different people for different areas of your life: colleagues at work you can trust, mentors whose advice you can ask and whose wisdom you can call on, friends who you can count on to be there, family who would do anything for you, parents who will always give you a roof over your head.

Know who these people are. And if you don’t feel confident that you can rely on the support you have in some areas, work on building relationships that will give you what you need. It’s far easier to cope with backstabbers and fair-weather friends at work if you have even just one colleague you know you can absolutely trust. A strong relationship with your partner, your parents or your siblings will get you through even the worst trauma. So make sure you know who’s on your side.

They say ‘count your blessings’. Well count your friends too. Be conscious and aware of who these people are that make up your safety net, appreciate them even when you don’t need them, and let them know you value their love and friendship. Why? Because apart from the warm feeling it gives them, it will reinforce your own sense of security and that will feed into your happiness levels.

Oh, and I hope it goes without saying that you need to give these people everything you expect from them, should they be the ones going through it. If they call on you, being there for them will give you a sense of worth that will add to your long-term happiness even in the most unhappy of circumstances.