According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs...first we have survival, then security, then belongingness, then self-expression, then self-esteem.

I don't think "happiness" is anywhere in the equation, but is instead a by-product of accomplishing these other things to our own satisfaction. We cannot "choose" to be happy, per se, but we can choose to not let little things discourage us or get in our way.

I never knew Eleanor agreed with me ;-)