7 Habits of Incredibly Happy People

1) Healthy Relationships

Of course I would start with relationships! It is actually one of the most important common aspects of happy people.

“Finding Flow” is an interesting book on the psychology of happiness. It reveals national survey data showing that when someone claims to have five or more friends with whom they can discuss important problems, they are 60% more likely to say they are happy.

Relationships with parents also play a very important role on a person’s level of happiness and ability to deal with stress. If possible try calling your mom and/or dad, or persons you might consider parent-like. Just ask how they are doing.

Happy people don’t take their relationships for granted. They constantly nurture these relationships through give and take & love and trust.

2) A Grateful Heart

I could probably talk about the benefits of a grateful heart endlessly! But one of its primary benefits is certainly a happy heart. Happy people are happy because they are constantly looking at what they have and counting their blessings. I keep hearing, “I am so grateful…” from such persons and boy is it a pleasure to work with them!

Without gratitude one only sees what’s not there and complains till they breathe their last unsatisfied breath. – Me 🙂

Try to express gratitude in words and in actions. It doesn’t take much to tell someone that you are grateful for their help. Express in action by reciprocating with body language, a hug, a gift or just returning the same favor. You will feel happy and so will the people who interact with you.

3) Giving nature

When you give happiness, you get happiness. Happy people are always eager to lend a helping hand. It is actually very satisfying to be able to serve someone. Without even knowing we are constantly serving, from picking up our dog’s poop to buying flowers for our beloved.

Grumpy people on the other hand are constantly calculating, “what’s in it for me?”

4) Belief System

Even though there is no accurate way to measure happiness, research shows that people with firm faith tend to live a more satisfied life than others. The satisfaction comes from having answers to life’s questions that might not be explained empirically.

For example, the question, “Why bad things happen to good people?” is very simply answered by the concepts of Karma and Reincarnation. So it has been found that people who have faith in such things find it easier to cope with death and other difficult situations in life.

5) Humility & Forgiveness

Humility is a very attractive quality. One can accomplish great things if one can avoid being overburdened by his/her false sense of self-importance.

I am not asking you to be spineless, but some people are just too uptight about their self-worth which comes from insecurity. Insecure people cannot be happy.

Forgiveness comes from humility. When we consider ourselves very important,  we cannot tolerate the mistake of another person: “How could you do this to me? YOU did this to ME! I will never forgive you!”. This is like holding on to hot coal. You are the only one getting burnt.

6) Move on

Life is short and sometimes it is not worth struggling over petty things that are possibly not worth our time. Happy people care less about what random people say about them, especially if their remarks are rude.  In fact, happy people are often open to criticism as they see it as an opportunity to improve. They always see the silver lining (brighter side of things).

7) Child Within

Children are generally happy because of their simplicity. Happy people tend to retain the child within. They can laugh without inhibition and have their cute moments that make others laugh at their expense. No walking on egg shells or calculated moves.

Simplicity should not be misunderstood for unintelligence. There is a time, place and circumstance for everything. Generally this child within comes out only in intimate settings with near and dear ones.