When I was about 8 years old, in response to the ubiquitous question of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I responded, “I want to be happy!” The adults chuckled and my inquisitor did not ask any follow-up questions. But my mother later pulled me aside to tell me that being happy wasn’t always something we mere mortals had perfect control over. Mom wanted to prepare me for the reality that happiness couldn’t be planned for or worked toward, like becoming a writer (my usual response to grownups asking about my future career goals). Happiness wasn’t something I could buy from a store, earn from an institution of higher education, or receive along with a corner office. As wise as Mom’s counsel was, science has found that she wasn’t quite right. The recently published World Happiness Report , along with myriad other clinical studies , show that it’s entirely possible to plan, purchase, and implement greater daily happiness. You just have to know how to spend your time and money effectively.…