Ten things that will make you happy

So it is self-help-y.  So what.  That is a venerable American genre.  We recognize it in Ben Franklin and it endures til today.  And if the pursuit of happiness is a right claimed in the Declaration of Independence, then what better goal for a self-help guide/poster than moving toward happiness.  Moreover, these are ten things that SCIENCE tell us will make us happy.

Notice especially #10 which points us toward the notion that happiness is built upon public virtue rather than achieved by self-indulgence.

#10: Give It Away, Give It Away Now! Make altruism and giving part of your life, and be purposeful about it. Researcher Stephen Post says helping a neighbor, volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a “helper’s high,” and you get more health benefits than you would from exercise or quitting smoking. Listening to a friend, passing on your skills, celebrating others’ successes, and forgiveness also contribute to happiness, he says. Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.

HERE for a more easily read version.