The smile is probably the most common symbol of happiness in humans. As on humorist said, "Smiling's contagious, but frowning's outrageous!" When looking for really happy people and learning from them, look beyond the smile and you'll see other factors that shape their generally upbeat lives.
First of all, the ability to be happy is inherent in all of us, but some people are happier than the others specifically because of the background and upbringing. A person who grew up in a home where there was respect, love, laughter and commitment is 99% most likely to amplify those traits as he or she grows up. Indeed, there seems to be a genetic propensity to happiness.
People who have met the acclaimed human development expert Stephen R. Covey describe him as someone who exudes a quiet but profound confidence. When asked about his positive outlook, Covey says that much of it came from his family background. He had grown up in a home where values and principles were instilled during childhood.
Many people report that having a sound marriage creates a lifetime of good feelings. Who wouldn't admit that the company of a loving companion really helps? The great comedian Bob Hope credited much of his sunny disposition in life to his wife Delores, who remained faithful to him despite the intrigues and scandals of the Hollywood celebrity circuit.
How many friends have you got? It's not really important how many friends you have. What matters is that you are able to make friends and value them afterwards. The best tip to remember in making friends is that in looking for the perfect friend, you should first be that kind of friend.
Another sign of genuinely happy individual is his desire to desire less. Wise men have said that curbing your desires is a surer route to happiness than a fat bank balance. In desiring less, you really gain more out of life.
A simple Italian cleric, Albino Luciani, was chosen to become the patriarch of Venice. The patriarchate was traditionally regarded as a position of power, pomp and prestige - but the humble and cheerful Luciani spurned it all. Venetians were shocked to see their highest religious authority riding a bike during an oil crisis, commuting on a water bus instead of a gondola, and wearing faded cassocks instead of a silky cardinal's attire. Luciani also opened his residence to beggars, homeless people and even displaced prostitutes.
Then, in 1978 - and to the amazement of many - the simple, unsophisticated Luciani was elected pope, with awestruck Italians calling him il papa del sorriso, the Smiling Pope. During his very brief ministry, John Paul I revolutionized the centuries-old institution by refusing the traditional papal crown and publicly discarding the aloof, monarchial expression "we" with the more humble yet endearing "I" during talks.
In the movie Pay It Forward, school kid Trevor McKinney (played by Haley Joel Osment) comes up with a "paying it forward" plan where people do good deeds for one another as a sort of pay back for a previous nicety extended to them. Thus, when he gives shelter to a homeless person, the guy not only fixes his single mother's vehicle but also prevents a distraught girl from committing suicide. Eventually, Trevor sets a chain reaction of good deeds that goes on and on and on.
This ability to do something good for others is another hallmark of happy people. Oh yes, it's easy to do good, but it's more challenging to do something good even if you may not get what you want in return for doing it... and still remain happy about it.
Look for those with an abiding faith in a higher power or who maintain spirituality. This doesn't necessarily mean being churchy or preachy or anything like that. A happy person is one who is in touch with his spirit and can see and appreciate the finer things in life apart from tangible, material wants and needs. It creates a kind of personality that values people for their worth and potential instead of their appearance or circumstances. If can be the kind of person described in the best-selling volume The Purpose-Driven Life or one of those inspiring characters in the hit television series Touched by an Angel.
Happy people are also confident in their appearance. Anita Roddick, the revolutionary founder of the famous Body Shop, subscibes to the belief that real beauty isn't a matter of waistlines or complexion, but rather a healthy, positive view of oneself. So, stop comparing your looks with that of others!
Happy people are also driven people. Hence, not all people who do their best to earn more money are greedy or materialistic; some only hope for a better kind of life. It's great to earn as much as you can, but make sure it's only up to a certain point. Many of life's pleasures do have a price tag attached to them, but a person who does his or her best to experience such pleasures should also aim to enjoy life to the fullest.
Psychologists have discovered that many old people are happy because they expected life to be hard when they were younger. As a result, as they advance in years, they learn to cope with the hardships. An accomplished farmer summed up what kept him happy in his old age: "I believe in growing old gracefully." He died at age 107.
Lastly, happy people have that elusive attribute humanity badly needs: common sense. It's great to be brilliant or intelligent, but it's greater to have a balanced mind that knows how to respond, not react, to any given situation. Dr. Seuss hit it right in his classic children's story Green Eggs and Ham: Sam's friend realized there was no harm in trying Sam's menu of green eggs and ham... and he ended up enjoying it. Think right and be happy!