What is one of the main ways to prevent disease and live a long healthy life? According to US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, it’s happiness. Along with his serious public health agenda which addresses mental health, substance addiction and gun control as a health policy, Murthy is adamant about the role happiness can play in life. People who are happy tend to be less stressed, and have lower levels of inflammation and heart disease. Throughout Murthy’s tour of the US, he has argued that happiness is not an emotion, but rather a perspective that can be created by anyone through four simple approaches: gratitude exercises, meditation, physical activity and social connectedness.