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What Does a Happy Person Look Like?
Researchers have delved into people’s lives over decades and have surmised that a happy person is usually someone who:
- Is able to balance hedonic and eudaimonic happiness;
- Extracts pleasure and meaning when working, socializing or playing i.e., enjoys the present;
- Does not feel entitled and has fewer expectations;
- Recognises that life includes an element of suffering;
- Smiles and laughs readily;
- Is often grateful;
- Lives with meaning and purpose;
- Cultivates healthy, stronger, more intimate friendships;
- Exercises self-care;
- Sets personal goals and challenges, and then strives to achieve these;
- Does not unnecessarily worry or ruminate over yesterday and tomorrow;
- Regularly indulges in small pleasures;
- Spends money on experiences that create lasting positive memories, rather than passive pleasures;
- Confronts crises with grace;
- Is high in humility and patience;
- Doesn’t entertain thoughts like “I’ll be happy when I get married/buy a car/have a child/get a promotion” i.e., waiting for happiness to come via change.
- Practices compassion and expresses kindness;
- Is open to learning new things, which sometimes involves discomfort;
- Ignores small annoyances/irritations and goes with the flow;
- Is happy for other people and shares their own happiness with others;
- Spends more time helping other people (altruism, generosity);
- Is not spiteful or insulting and doesn’t hold grudges or play games;
- (for some) Accepts some form of spirituality / religion as part of their lives – meaning in the context of the vast cosmos;
- Does not consider themselves a martyr or victim.