Louise Jackson
Smile spreaders light up the world.
Their mere presence in a room makes others feel happier.
They have the gift of bringing positive energy to the people they meet.
Here are the clear signs you too bring comfort and joy — without necessarily even knowing it.
1) People want to be around you
Of course one of the most obvious signs you make someone happy is if they want to be around you.
But here’s the thing:
We’re not talking about popularity contests.
Because the reality is that you can still have millions of social media followers but very few true friends.
True friendship isn’t measured by the number of pals you have, but instead by the quality of those relationships.
If you have people in your life who choose to be around you, then it’s clearly for good reason.
You enrich their lives in some way.
We should never take for granted the people who value us.
It’s a compliment when someone brings you into their inner circle. They are showing you that you make them happy.
2) Friends call you when they’re feeling down
And not just friends.
Maybe you are someone that family members turn to in their hour of need. Or you’re the first port of call for a colleague who is having a hard time.
Because the ability to make people happy doesn’t just apply to the good times in life.
In fact, it’s more needed during a crisis.
Those sad times, when people in your life are feeling disappointed, defeated, and dejected.
If during these times you are the one they turn to — it says a lot.
They respect you, they trust you, and they know that they can rely on you.
3) You constantly strive to be kind and compassionate
When I think of the people who make me the happiest in my life, something becomes very clear:
These are the people who approach me with deep kindness and compassion.
And the funny thing is that it doesn’t always have to be someone you are close to.
For example, many years ago I was having the worst day.
I’d just been dumped. I was in a foreign country. I was lost. And I was about to miss a train that would take me to the airport to fly home.
I couldn’t find the station and wasn’t far off having a mini-meltdown.
Luckily I was fortunate enough to ask an incredibly kind stranger for directions.
After explaining it was tricky to find, she then ran through the city to deliver me to my destination.
She went out of her way to be helpful.
She had no idea how much her kindness meant to me at that particular moment.
And that’s the thing:
We never know what someone else is going through.
So we may never realize the impact of one single act of kindness.
You don’t know that your warm words could come when they are needed most.
Perhaps kindness is the most simple yet powerful way to create happiness around you.
4) You’re a glass-half-full type of person
It’s official:
Optimistic people are happier and healthier than pessimists.
Jagdish Khubchandani, professor of public health at New Mexico State University, told Healthline:
“In the 21st century, a lot of evidence has emerged on optimism and positivity and how they can influence immune systems, brain function, and physical health”
So it’s unsurprising that positive people are easier to be around and pass on that happiness.
Optimists are better at handling the stresses of life.
Rather than dwelling on the bad, they are more proactive and empowered.
I don’t know about you, but if I find myself in a tricky situation, I’d rather turn to an optimist than a pessimist to help me out.
5) You focus on what you can control
We all know that life can be challenging.
You’re certainly not ignorant of the struggle that people face.
But you choose to look on the bright side.
That’s because you know it’s better to focus on what you can change than dwell on what you can’t.
This makes you solution-focused.
Think about it:
When you’ve got a problem, who would you go to:
- Someone who will just sit there and agree how bad it all is
- Someone who has sympathy, but who also offers encouragement and ideas to solve your dilemma.
It’s a no-brainer, right?
6) You’re not much of a complainer
Let’s be honest:
Most of us are capable of having a little whinge every now and then.
In fact, research has even suggested that a small amount of complaining is good for us. It can be cathartic to get things off your chest.
But constant moaning is a real drag.
Think about someone you know who never stops complaining.
I often refer to these people as “negaholics” because it’s almost like a compulsion.
Too much negativity is tough to be around, right?
No matter how you look at it, moaning and complaining to excess starts to become a downer.
That’s why if you keep your complaints to a minimum, you help to make sure you’re not passing your negativity onto others.
So you’re more likely to be a pleasure to be around.
7) You’re happy to help
You believe it’s important to share what you have.
That means you are generous with your time, your knowledge, and your skills as well as your material possessions or wealth.
Generosity isn’t about how much you have to give.
It’s more about a caring attitude that wants to give back.
You know what they say:
‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’.
It means so much when people extend thoughtfulness to us and are prepared to lend a hand.
8) You try not to judge people
As we’ve seen, so many personal traits extend happiness to other people without us even realizing it.
Meanwhile, others can steal it from them.
And one of those things that can quickly rob someone of their inner peace and happiness is when we are judgemental towards them.
None of us like to feel judged.
Yet it can be really tempting for us to judge others.
We even end up doing it subconsciously without actually noticing.
But smile spreaders who unknowingly make other people happy are never quick to judge.
They realize that until you’ve walked a mile in someone else’s shoes you should never jump to conclusions.
9) You’re considerate of the needs of others
Let’s make something clear straight off the bat:
Being considerate doesn’t mean you’re a people pleaser.
Of course, you shouldn’t blindly go along with whatever everyone else wants, simply for an easy life or just to try to make someone happy.
But it’s still important to be thoughtful.
Being considerate means you are fair and mindful.
You consider how your words and actions impact other people.
You give consideration to requests, rather than instantly dismissing them
You don’t only think about yourself.
You make people happy without even knowing it when you think in terms of “we” and not just “I”.
10) You are happy
In the words of Frank Sinatra:
“When you’re smilin’, when you’re smilin’
The whole world smiles with you
When you’re laughin’, when you’re laughin’
The sun comes shinin’ through.”
Ultimately, you stand a better chance of making others happy when you too are happy.
You’ve got to fill your own cup first.
Happiness is an energy.
We pick up on that energy in others, and it helps us to feel happier — just by being around them.
Of course, nobody is happy 24-7.
Trying to force yourself to feel it when you’re not is just toxic positivity.
But you stand a better chance of being happy when you:
- Manage your stress levels
- Bolster your self-esteem
- Tackle negative self-talk
- Practice gratitude to focus on your blessings
- Lean on others when you’re down and open up about your feelings
The bottom line is it’s far from selfish to put your own happiness first.
Just by doing so, you’re going to make others happy too!
