Their are many qualities that collectively compose happiness, like having love in our lives, of course, a few other important qualities count, too, such as self-esteem, peace of mind, fulfillment, and confidence. But the list isn't as long as you might think. Happiness is profound, but simple.

People often presume that these are qualities you're born with. Not always. But you can acquire them - by mastering the use of the happiness tools and avoiding the fear-inspired happiness traps. When people acquire these qualities, it gives them a lift like no other. They get out of bed in the morning after a peaceful sleep, eager to tackle their challenges. They can't wait to share the experiences of their daily lives with their families, coworkers, and friends. They don't hop from one worry to the next, fixating on their bank accounts, their bosses, their waistlines, or their status.

With this new outlook, people invariably fall in love with life, and often begin to feel "like a kid again." That's natural. In childhood, our spirits were unbridled and unbroken. We still had our neurological network of fear - our bogeymen under the bed - but our spirits led the way.

As we get older, though, and have to solve all our own problems, we become increasingly obsessed with what it takes to survive in this world. Our basic balance begins to shift - from spirit to survival - and we lose our love for life. Ultimately, we find that the things we have to do to survive are often the things that end up killing us. But if we find a way to keep the qualities of happiness, the spirit stays strong. Life can still hurt us, but it cannot destroy what is in us.

Below are 4 happiness qualities that can help you choose a more peaceful life:

1. Altruism: Unhappy people are usually too self-absorbed to be altruistic. But happy people know how good it feels. It connects you to others, gives you a purpose, and gets you outside yourself.

2. Perspective: Unhappy people tend to see things in absolute terms and often can't distinguish small problems from big ones. Happy people see shades of gray, and they know how to prioritize their problems and turn them into possibilities. They don't lose sight of life's big picture during bad times.

3. Humor: Humor is a shift of perception that gives people the guts to go on when life looks its worst. There is an abandonment in it that is close to enlightenment. It lifts suffering off the heart and hands it to the intellect and spirit, which alone have the power to heal it.

4. Purpose: Happy people know why they're here on earth. They're doing the things they were meant to do. If they died today, they would be satisfied with their lives.


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