From the moment we could walk, our parents began to prepare us for life and how to be successful. Many of my clients have told me that they even put their child on a school waiting list while they were still in the womb. The race to the workforce — to study hard and go to college or get a job has consumed so much of our modern lives. Yet how many people are instilling the value of the pursuit of happiness?

I found it interesting that the pursuit of happiness has actually become an emerging priority as evidenced in two recent reports. According to last month’s WalletHub analysis, Hawaii was ranked the third happiest state in the union.

Personal-finance website WalletHub’s state of happiness report studied 28 indicators ranging from depression to sports participation to income growth in all 50 states. Hawaii scored 67.9 out of 100 points.

Our state received high marks for emotional health, physical well-being and work environment. Hawaii was also recognized as having the lowest share of adult depression and the fifth lowest divorce rate in the nation.

These joyful statistics are in contrast to a global study on happiness, which found that overall, Americans are increasingly unhappy.

In 2007, the U.S. ranked 3rd in global happiness and in 2016 it came 19th. The reasons cited were declining social support and increased corruption.

The first World Happiness Report was issued in April 2012, in support of the United Nation’s focus on happiness and well-being.

Just the fact that leaders across the globe are studying happiness and heralding it as a proper measure of social progress and the goal of public policy is astounding. Well-being is emerging as the center of governments’ efforts. That’s encouraging news!

Here are three ways you can bolster your life’s happiness daily:

>> Focus on what’s positive. When you focus on what’s good, you move away from the challenging situations.

As you choose to find positive aspects of every dire, challenging, and hopeless situation, you create a new way of being. You are ultimately the creator of your experience, and focusing on what’s working is one way to feel better.

>> Accept negative thoughts. We can’t control what we feel or don’t feel, and the thoughts (whether negative or positive) that stem from how we feel about someone or something are normal. Don’t categorize your emotions or thoughts as “good” or “bad.” Instead, accept them.

Be mindful of what’s going on, accept where you are, and choose to focus on the good of what is.

>> Shift your perspective. What will determine your joy or lack of it is the combination of all the perspectives that you choose for every situation in your life, past and present.

In every situation is the opportunity to reframe and redefine. Let go of your judgments and strive to see the bigger picture.

Alice Inoue is the founder of Happiness U. Visit yourhappinessu.com.