MARCI SHIMOFF: In the last year, the number of calls going in to suicide hot lines has increased dramatically - in some areas as much as seventy percent. Though, fortunately, there hasn't been an increase in suicides, it's clear that people are feeling the need for more emotional support.

It's not surprising; in these times of economic uncertainty, our hardwired survival mechanisms - left over from our days as cavemen and women - can get kicked into high gear, sending us into fight-or-flight mode and leaving us fearful and stressed. Not exactly a recipe for happiness - or clear thinking!

So what can we do?

The first thing is to realize that sometimes our alarm systems cause us to over-react. The way to deal with a lost job or a reduced retirement account is not by running away or by punching someone. Instead, we need to find that place of peace and well-being inside that isn't affected by external circumstances. Now, more than ever, it's important to be happy from the inside out or what I call Happy for No Reason!

Doing the research for my book Happy for No Reason, I interviewed scores of scientists and one hundred unconditionally happy people. I discovered 21 core happiness habits that anyone can practice to become happier and stay that way - no matter what's going on in the economy.

Here are three tips for surviving - and even thriving - in today's unpredictable financial climate:

Don't Believe Everything You Think. Newsflash: Our thoughts aren't always true! The Greek philosopher, Epictetus, said it this way, "We are disturbed not by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens." You can save yourself a lot of grief by remembering this fact.
When you start to spin out and 'awful-ize' your situation, do a reality check, and ask yourself whether what you're telling yourself is actually true in this moment. Those few seconds of self-inquiry can stop your mind from becoming a runaway train that takes you somewhere counter-productive to your happiness.

Make Your Cells Happy. Your body can support happiness best if you pay attention to its needs. In times of stress, it's tempting to indulge in comfort food and curl up in front of the television, rather than eat properly and exercise, but don't get caught in that downward spiral.
Every expert agrees that some form of exercise is essential for maintaining optimal well-being. The next time you start to feel glum, get your blood moving faster - even if it's just by standing up and moving around while you talk on the phone, or parking farther away from your destination and 'going the distance.' Enlist the aid of the endorphins that are released when you exercise - they're powerful medicine for lifting spirits.

Switch From Me to We. You want to feel wealthy? Give of yourself! It doesn't have to be money that you contribute - try cleaning out a closet and donating the clothes you aren't using to a homeless shelter. Go out of your way to do something kind for a friend or neighbour. Simply look around you and see if there's a need you can fill for someone else. Switching from 'me' to 'we' is a guaranteed happiness booster.

When the world feels crazy and the events in your life seem beyond your control, remember: Don't let your survival wiring take over! Join the ranks of the resilient and become Happy for No Reason. When you build a refuge of unshakeable peace and well-being inside, you begin to turn things around, not just for yourself, but for every life you touch as well.