Author Kristen Houghton discusses her new book, And Then I'll Be Happy! Stop Sabotaging Your Happiness and Put Your Own Life First with interviewer Pam Sutche. The "un" happiness epidemic seems to be primarily targeting women because, as First Lady Michelle Obama has said, "Women put their own needs last."

Kristen Houghton agrees and has known this in her own life. Houghton's article in the San Francisco Examiner, titled "The Elusive State of Happiness" brought her tons of mail and email from women who felt she was writing their life stories.

As a former saboteur of her own happiness, this Lifestyle writer interviewed more than one hundred of these women. All had the same story; they placed their own needs, goals, and dreams last on their exhaustive to-do list. The book, And Then I'll Be Happy! was born.

During the interview Houghton discusses the ways women can learn to be responsible for their own happiness and practice "healthy selfishness" which she calls "SELF-ness". Prioritizing your goals and deciding what you want in your life leads to personal happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction.

Houghton says:
"You can't, and shouldn't, wait to fulfill your dreams or to pursue a desired goal. Don't allow others to dictate how you live. The truth is that you take nothing away from others when you place your own precious life first. Instead, you have more to give to everyone because you are a fulfilled and happy person who is living life on your own terms.