Guardian Unlimited: Happiness, rather than working hard, is the key to success, according to research published today. The findings suggest that happiness is not a “feelgood” luxury, but is essential to people’s wellbeing. What is more, happiness can also extend across an entire nation, with people in “happy” nations being more likely to have pro-democratic attitudes and a keenness to help others.

“There was strong evidence that happiness leads people to be more sociable and more generous, more productive at work, to make more money, and to have stronger immune systems,” said Prof Lyubomirsky.

“Our work suggests that sad people should try to increase the frequency of positive emotions in their lives by doing things that make them feel happy, even temporarily,” said Prof Lyubomirsky, whose research is published in the Psychological Bulletin today. If you can raise your spirits, the benefits can be manifold. “Happy people are more likeable and more sociable. They are also better able to cope with stress and likely to be healthier and live longer.”

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