Can You Pass The Contentment Test?

You’re happier than average. That’s awesome. Happiness is linked to many beautiful things, like better sleep and attractive smiles. But part of being happy is realizing that life sometimes stinks. Tough times, traumatic events, and heck, even persistently lousy weather can be downers. Happy people are more resilient and tend to bounce back quicker, and studies have proven many other benefits of happiness.

You see the world through rose-colored glasses…most of the time. You have your up days and down days, and most people are happily in the middle of the happiness scale, like you. Although you live your life with a good amount if cheer, you can raise your level of happiness, and your beauty quotient. What’s the connection? As you increase your happiness you’ll rebound from stress easier and have better cardiovascular health, which helps your skin glow, and keeps wrinkles at bay. Not to mention that people unconsciously find genuine smiles—known to scientists as Duchenne smiles—more attractive. Your brain instantly senses a fake grin, as does anyone who looks at you. So follow the action plan and then take the Happiness Quiz again to see if your score has improved.

Your results indicate you’re not a bubbly, sunshine-on-my-shoulder type, and that’s OK (those people can get annoying, anyway). You didn’t say you’re unhappy per se—maybe you’re going through a tough time right now, or heck, maybe it’s raining today and your hair launched a frizz attack on the way to work. Whatever the reason, you have the potential to bring more happiness into your life.