Rules of Happiness - Be More Social

“Let us be grateful to people who make us

happy, they are the charming gardeners who

make our souls blossom.” - Marcel Proust

It turns out that Michael Caine was right all along.

Playing Scrooge in the Muppets Christmas Carol, he sang: “If
you want to know the measure of a man, you simply count
his friends!”

Countless studies on the science of happiness have turned up
one single characteristic of the happiest and most successful
people in society.

They have a large social network!

Lots of friends. Lots of colleagues. Lots of people they call
just to banter with for 10 minutes.

How many friends are stored in your cell phone?


One shortcut to becoming happier – quickly – is to simply
make more friends.

Be proactive about it. Don’t just wait for interesting people to
stumble into your life. Join a local dance group. Discover a
book club. Try randomly chatting with strangers in your
nearest cafe.

Get yourself listed on social networking sites, such as
Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Hi5 – and join the online groups
that share your interests. Subscribe to the many friendshiponly
sites springing up in big cities. Get out there!

Making friends isn’t that difficult. You just need to make
the effort.

Here are some tips.


Firstly, make yourself an attractive friend. Don’t begrudge
buying a coffee occasionally. Don’t have “attitude.” Don’t
spend your time moaning. Nobody likes negativity. Keep a
smile on your face – while being yourself.

Secondly, make an effort, even when they don’t. Sometimes
people are reserved in the early stages of friendship, and
need that extra push before a real connection can be
established. Be the one to make that move. If it doesn’t work
out, it’s their loss. Move on.

Throughout it all, however, make sure you play the numbers
game.

Don’t stop when you have one or two extra friends. Keep
going and going. Expand your social circle as far as you can.


Be the person that walks through town and bumps into a
dozen friends.

Remember, the happiest people are those that have the
largest social circles.

THE 18 RULES of HAPPINESS, Karl Moore