From The Dallas Morning News  5-24-05  Page 6E

In What Happy People Know, author Dan Baker outlines what he calls “The 12 Qualities of Happiness.”  Not all have to be present, he writes, “and they don’t all have to be there in equal amounts.”

Still, most must be abundant for someone “to experience the kind of lasting, rock-solid happiness that endures even when life gets tough to take – as it always does.”

Love

• Even better than being loved is loving somebody

Optimism

• Realizing “the more painful the event, the more profound the lesson.”

Courage

• This quality “allows us to thrive.”

A sense of freedom

• Everyone has the power to make choices, but unhappy people don’t know they have it.”

Proactivity

• Happy people “don’t wait for events or other people to make them happy.”

Security

• Happy people know nothing lasts over time.  They’re neither slaves to popularity, nor longevity, nor financial status.

Health

• It’s hard being happy if you don’t feel healthy; and “it’s hard to be healthy if you’re not happy.”

Spirituality

• Happy people “aren’t afraid to go beyond the boundaries of their own lives… they’re not concerned about dying – they’re concerned about not living.”

Altruism

• Happy people know how being altruistic helps you see outside yourself.

Perspective

• Happy people see shades of gray instead of just black and white.

Humor

• This “shift of perception” gives people the wherewithal to go on, even when life looks its worst.

Purpose

• If happy people were to die today, “they would be satisfied with their lives.”

• Optimism and Hopefulness are Happiness’ related mental states.