5 Habits of Happy People

Happiness — that powerful feeling of complete inner contentment and well-being — is very important to maintaining overall health; it may even play a role in helping people live longer. But how does a person get happier?

Studies have shown that one of the key ways to boost feelings of happiness is by exercising "caring" habits. Being supportive, accepting and encouraging towards others is just one of the strategies you can use to elevate your mood while also brightening the lives of others. Here are five proven habits of happy people for you to try:

1. Be a good listener. Give people your undivided attention when they're talking to you and listen closely. Don't allow yourself to be distracted (e.g., cell phones and hand-held computers).
2. Be positive. Always focus on the positive things people do rather than the negative.
3. Remember your successes. Savour your past successes and refer back to what you learned from those positive experiences to help you deal with current problems.
4. Have a role model. Emulate the behaviours of someone you admire. Consider handling things the way that person might if he or she were in your situation.
5. Find meaning. If you have a passion, follow it. Many of the world's happiest people are those who have found a way to follow their dreams.

To get started, pick one goal and begin working on it right away. It might seem difficult or a little awkward at first, but with practice you'll soon improve your skills and reap the benefits of increased feelings of happiness in your own life.