8 Secrets of the Happiest People

Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky has spent many years researching happiness and the lives of happy people. In her book The How of Happiness, she identifies eight common traits shared by the genuinely happy individuals she studied:

1. They invest in relationships.
Happy people spend quality time with family and friends, nurture their relationships, and truly enjoy them.

2. They practice gratitude.
They regularly express thankfulness for what they have in life.

3. They help others.
They are quick to offer help to those in need.

4. They are optimistic about the future.
When asked to imagine their future, they envision it positively.​

5. They savor life’s pleasures.
They enjoy the small joys of life and strive to live in the present moment.

6. They exercise regularly. 

Happy people work out at least once a week- often daily.

7. They pursue long-term goals.
They are committed to meaningful, long-term purposes from raising children with values, to fighting corruption.

8. They face adversity with resilience.
Even happy people experience stress, hardships, and tragedy. The difference lies in how they respond- with strength, dignity, and resilience.