"Much of what we think will improve our wellbeing is either misguided or just plain wrong." So begins the new book, "Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements," by Tom Rath and Jim Harter, Ph.D. 

As Harter and Rath discovered - through thorough review of decades of scientific research and a comprehensive global study of more than 150 countries, which gave them insights into the wellbeing of more than 98 percent of the world's population - most people don't know what's good for them.

Most of us equate wellbeing with wealth and health. But that's not the whole story,  according to Rath and Harter. What really comprises wellbeing are five interconnected elements: Career Wellbeing, Social Wellbeing, Financial Wellbeing, Physical Wellbeing and Community Wellbeing. These are the common factors of life well-lived for people everywhere. 

How to obtain them, however, is the challenge.

Work against our own best interests

We know that physical activity will improve our health, yet we skip exercising. Missing one workout won't give us a heart attack or cause a stroke - so we let ourselves off the hook for a day.

We know that too much sugar and fried foods are bad for our health. But we grab a handful of candy or chips without even thinking. One French fry can't cause diabetes or obesity, right?

As long as we allow a short-term desires to win, it will be difficult to effect long term behavioral change.

Similarly, we know it's important to spend quality time with our friends and family, but when work is pressing, we don't stop to ask a friend how he is doing.