Happiness is a deep sense of ease and comfort. It is joy, and joy that isn’t fueled by external motivators.

“Social scientists say that happiness depends on lots of factors, the first is do you look at the world as a problem, or as an opportunity? Your attitude toward life.

Secondly, it depends on your financial resources, because a lot of people are, these days anyway, very scared about health insurance, about retirement benefits, about their future. But that adds about 10-12%. Your attitude determines 50%.

And then the last part, which determines 40% of your daily happiness and experiences, do you have the ability to make other people happy? That’s the fastest way to be happy.”

1. Positive Outlook – Optimistic

People who have a positive outlook view the world as full of possibilities and opportunities. Their inherent attitude toward life is one of possibility.

Cultivating positivity is then linked to happiness. And happy people are optimistic.

1. They Know Themselves.

Happy people may enjoy other people, but they have also spent a considerable amount of time getting to know themselves. They know what makes them upset, and they know what brings them happiness. They know what they like and dislike.

Happy and successful people are in tune with themselves.

1. The Rest.

Rest is an undervalued superpower. It is what enables us to heal and recover, yet many of us fill our lives with so many obligations that rest becomes illusive.

Even when we lie down to rest, our minds are racing with the commitments we have for the following day or the things we were unable to accomplish earlier in the day. This can lead to restless nights and an inability to get deep sleep.

But happy and successful people value rest as much as they do productivity. They understand that they cannot bring their best selves to the work if they are tired, worn down and exhausted.

1. They Are Content.

Being content solves a multitude of problems. It can also help you to enjoy where you are at any given point in your life.

Content people are present. They do not live in search of the next big thing. They celebrate what they have and take pleasure in the here and now.

1. Self-Compassion.

Happy people have learned the difference between guilt, shame, and blame. They understand that the key to their happiness is being gentle and compassionate with themselves. They offer themselves the grace they would extend to a close friend.

When they make mistakes they respond with compassion and grace.

1. They Silence Their Inner Judge

judgmental people judge themselves first and others second. This is counterproductive and incompatible with happiness.

To be happy, we must silence our inner critic.

When we practice self-love, the love we give to ourselves will gradually extend to others. And when we walk through life without the need to judge ourselves or others, we can and will experience emotional freedom and happiness.

1. They Feel Their Emotions.

Happy and successful people understand that being present in their physical bodies includes being able to experience the range of emotions that come with the human experience.

Rather than running from unpleasant emotions and feelings, they allow themselves to experience and feel emotions. They give a name to their emotions, and most importantly, they don’t judge themselves for feeling anger, sadness and hurt.

1. Focus and Standards

They focus on what they want and lean into that desire.

They are inspired by their peers, but they hold themselves to standards that they create.

1. Mental Health.

Happy and successful people ideally understand that health is bigger than one’s physical body. It also includes the mind. They understand that they cannot give what they do not have, and they take time to care for their mental well-being.

1. Physical Health.

Happy and successful people understand that they have one body and one life to live. While they may be on a journey to optimal health, they are mindful of the need to care for their physical health.

1. They Understand What Brings Them, Joy.

Happy people know what brings them joy. They understand what activities bring happiness, and they make time to invest in those activities. They do regular internal work to understand how to be their happiest selves.

1. They Invest in Themselves.

They invest in themselves by returning to school, taking courses to learn or enhance a skill, learning a new language, taking a cooking class or whatever they like to learn.

1. They Can Disconnect

Happy people and successful people can disconnect from social media and other distractions. They can focus intensively on their work, families, and commitments and regularly take breaks from social media. They are not glued to their phones, iPods or other communications devices.

1. They Help Others.

One of the most rewarding activities is to help others. When you help others, you help yourself!

Happy people understand that giving is its reward.

1. They Live with Gratitude.

When you practice gratitude, you create a habit of identifying and celebrating the good. You train your brain to look for the positive.

An undeniable habit of happy and successful people is gratitude. They practice it daily, and the practice brings them happiness.