8 unexpected habits of happy people

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/8-unexpected-habits-of-happy-people

By Melissa Breyer
Thu, Dec 26 2013

1. They go to parks ...

2. They live in Scandinavian countries ...

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4. They have satisfying jobs — and if not, they quit ...

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8. They don’t try to be … happy?
Oops. Now that we’ve told you the secrets for happiness, we’re here to dash your dreams. A prominent study shows that making happiness a personal goal will actually stand in the way of your achieving it. The researchers found that women who valued happiness more reported being less happy and more depressed than women who didn't place much importance on the goal.

"Wanting to be happy can make you less happy," said study researcher Iris Mauss. "If you explicitly and purposely focus on happiness, that appears to have a self-defeating quality."