Happiness seems largely dependent on individual brain chemistry, in my experience. People are either naturally happy or not.
But I've identified a few things that tend to make people happier (all simply from observation):
1.) Making things. People who routinely make things (writing, music, quilts, furniture, clothes, etc) are generally happier than people who don't.
2.) Doing work that is valued by your community. If your job isn't helping your community, volunteering can take care of this. People who feel they are genuinely helping their communities on a daily basis are happier, even though they often make less money.
3.) Having a partner who you get along with well. This can be a lover or a roommate or a best friend- but having someone close to you who you have a trusting and harmonious and interesting relationship with is really important to happiness.
These seem to be the key things to making people happier, but screwy brain chemistry can ruin happiness for people who have all these things.
But I've identified a few things that tend to make people happier (all simply from observation):
1.) Making things. People who routinely make things (writing, music, quilts, furniture, clothes, etc) are generally happier than people who don't.
2.) Doing work that is valued by your community. If your job isn't helping your community, volunteering can take care of this. People who feel they are genuinely helping their communities on a daily basis are happier, even though they often make less money.
3.) Having a partner who you get along with well. This can be a lover or a roommate or a best friend- but having someone close to you who you have a trusting and harmonious and interesting relationship with is really important to happiness.
These seem to be the key things to making people happier, but screwy brain chemistry can ruin happiness for people who have all these things.
