essay on a cheerful person

The Social Psychology of Cheerfulness

Does cheerfulness enhance selfhood and/or social advancement.

Posted May 24, 2022 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

This post is a review of Cheerfulness: A Literary and Cultural History. By Timothy Hampton. Zone Books. 267 pp. $29.

A moderate uptick in mood, cheerfulness is not nearly as intense as anger , joy, or depression . However, according to Timothy Hampton, it can constitute a fleeting force, with a capacity to manage our emotional lives and influence other people that “has, perhaps, been overlooked and undervalued.”

In this book, Hampton, a professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of Bob Dylan: How the Songs Work , provides an informative and engaging cultural and literary history of cheerfulness in Western Europe and the United States. Ranging across five centuries, he examines cheerfulness in Protestant theology, Enlightenment philosophy , modern advertising and aesthetics.

Along the way, Hampton illuminates how the concept accrued “psychological nuances,” as it shaped selfhood, personality traits, temperament, manners, and social advancement.

For Calvinists, cheerfulness served as a visual clue of engagement in a community of believers, while retaining its association with hospitality and goodwill. And it became “a policing tool,” to assess the inner promptings of the heart of each individual.

Sixteenth and seventeenth century physicians, we learn, believed that “cheerful music,” exercise “which makes the blood a cheerful juice,” and “cheerful sights, agreeable to virtue and piety,” could counteract melancholy.

Shakespeare’s tragedies, Hampton reveals, undercut idealism about cheerfulness as naiveté. Richard III, a social climber and seducer, used cheerfulness to “invent a royal personality for his most unroyal self.” Although in The Tempest , Prospero declares that cheerfulness is a check on revenge and violence, Hampton reminds us that he “lives on an enchanted island.”

Michel de Montaigne, Shakespeare’s contemporary, saw cheerfulness as partly performative, and partly private disposition. For Montaigne, as opposed to Calvin, it allowed individuals, although limited by “civility,” to be relatively unconstrained by duty or social convention.

Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the important role played by cheerfulness in building relationships between people. By pleasing both the possessor and those around him, it was a glue holding society together, at a time in which virtue was no longer represented by heroic actions. Involving exchange, cheerfulness, Hampton argues, also became an external marker of inner strength, signaling the emergence of capitalism and bourgeois sociability.

In The Polite Lady , a widely circulated text in the late eighteenth century, a mother advises her daughter to avoid anger by maintaining a “constant cheerfulness,” even if it involves the appearance but not the reality of this virtue. Doing so can keep a person going, despite the vagaries of fortune: “by a kind of innocent deceit, you may not only cheat the world into an opinion of your good nature, but what is more, you may even cheat yourself into the actual possession of this amiable quality.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, writers also laid bare the dangerous qualities of cheerfulness. The cheer of Charles Dickens’ Mr. Micawber, Hampton reminds us, is excessive and blind; Uriah Heep’s is unctuous and fake. In contrast to these minor characters, and as evidence, perhaps, of growing ambivalence, Dickens’ heroes act cheerfully, but do not talk about it.

As consumer culture expanded in the 20th century, Hampton demonstrates that cheerfulness remained a useful concept. Even as the Boy Scout Handbook dispensed advice about how to build a fire, it listed cheerfulness as one of its 12 virtues. In 1927, the University of Minnesota formed the first squad of female cheerleaders. The Power of Positive Thinking , Norman Vincent Peale’s runaway bestseller, told generations of readers, be cheerful and you will be successful. The marketers of Cheerios, which entered the cereal market in the 1940s, taught boys and girls to see the doughnut, not the hole.

Appalled, it seems, by presentations of the self for the purposes of manipulation and profit, Professor Hampton features attempts to use cheerfulness to “subvert and disrupt social and economic forces.” He places the interplay of song, vocalese, and commentary in the performances of Louis Armstrong, the great jazz musician, in the context of hideous mis-readings of Black slaves, sharecroppers, servants, singers, and comedians, as “cheerful and apparently happy creatures.” If “Cheerios absorbs the concept of cheer into a single object,” Hampton writes, “Armstrong opens it up again, generating gaiety out of the distance between himself and himself, between his dead serious virtuosity and his performing persona.” In a rendition of the tune “Shine,” for example, Satchmo takes the clichéd lyrics apart, murmuring, “Oh, chocolate drop, that’s me,” and breaking into scat singing to avoid reciting the final word of “That’s why they call me ‘Shine.’” Because he is both cheerful and playing someone who is cheerful, Hampton adds, “it is impossible for us to dismiss his cheer.”

Although the language of cheerfulness – its metaphors and images – remains much the same and is evoked endlessly, Hampton concludes that the concept has “been drained of its power to bind humans together.” In the 21st century, its emblem is a smiley face, an emoji that removes the “’countenance’ from cheerfulness and leaves us with a face – in the reduced sense of that word, a surface, like a rock face or the face of a watch.”

And the best Hampton can do is leave us with the hope that cheerfulness can “provide an instant of solace” during a crisis, to get us through the next few hours, to connect us to a neighbor: “You can’t build a politics on it. But you probably can’t build a world without it.”

Glenn C. Altschuler, Ph.D. , is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies at Cornell University.

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Nick Wignall

• Post date May 25, 2018

Cheerfulness Is Not a Personality Trait. It’s a Virtue.

• Tags emotional intelligence

Here’s a strange fact about me: I’m almost always happy but very rarely cheerful.

Most people who know me would be surprised to hear me say that because I usually appear pretty cheerful. I’m often described as “easy-going,” “upbeat,” “optimistic,” “enthusiastic,” and “positive.” I also usually feel pretty cheerful. I don’t often feel grumpy, irritable, or down, and I do genuinely feel full of cheer most of the time.

So if I appear cheerful to others, and feel cheerful myself, why would I describe myself as “not a very cheerful person”?

Because I define cheerfulness a little differently.

What is cheerfulness, exactly?

Most people think of cheerfulness as a feeling or temperament. Which means that cheerful people are those who got lucky genetically and are blessed with an “easy demeanor” or “upbeat personality.” And while that’s an intuitive way of looking at cheerfulness, I think it’s actually dangerous.

But before I explain why, let’s back up a second and define our terms. Merriam and Webster define cheerfulness as a “lightness of mind and feeling.” I think this is a good definition for a couple reasons:

• Lightness is a pretty accurate summary term for all those adjectives we used earlier to describe a cheerful-looking or feeling person: easy-going, upbeat, optimistic, etc. In general, people who appear cheerful are aptly described as having a lightness about them.
• The idea that cheerfulness involves both “mind” and “feeling” is important because it suggests that cheerfulness isn’t just a feeling. It also involves the mind or thinking.

This mental aspect to cheerfulness is at the heart of why I think it’s unhelpful and potentially dangerous to think of cheerfulness primarily as a feeling or trait—as something that some of us are lucky enough to be born with that allows us to act and be a certain way (upbeat, optimistic, etc.)

Instead of viewing cheerfulness as a trait or feeling, what if we thought of it as a behavior or set of actions? What if we thought of cheerfulness as a habit of thinking and behaving in a way that is upbeat, optimistic, and easy-going, regardless of how we may feel at a given moment?

All that’s a bit conceptual, so let’s break it down a little with a concrete example.

What little old ladies can teach us about the nature of thoughts and feelings

When I get stuck in line at the grocery store behind a little old lady trying to pay for her two cans of Ensure with a checkbook she can’t find in her oversized purse, whatever cheerfulness I may have entered the store with vanishes quickly.

But why? Did the slow little old lady suck up all my cheerfulness?

Of course not. My cheerfulness vanished because I started thinking and behaving differently:

• I started looking at my watch and worrying about being late to my appointment.
• Then I began beating myself up for not picking the other checkout line and doing mental math to figure out whether it’s worth it to bail on this line and try another.
• But mostly, I started talking smack in my head about this little old lady in front of me: Can’t you just use a credit card like a normal human being? How long does it take to find a damn checkbook? Instead of express lanes, grocery stores should start installing little old lady lanes to decongest the rest of the store. Etc…

Of course, just writing this down makes me feel awful.

By deciding to lambast this poor, sweet old lady in front of me—even if only in my head—I destroyed whatever cheerfulness I had when I walked into the store because the way I chose to think directly influenced how I felt.

By thinking like a jerk, I ended up feeling like a jerk—irritated, frustrated, and ultimately, pretty guilty.

In psychology, there’s a well-known set of principles called Cognitive Mediation Theory, which says that our thoughts always mediate the relationship between external events and our emotional reactions. A little old lady taking forever at the checkout line doesn’t cause frustration, but my interpretation of that little old lady as “way too slow” does.

An implication of this theory is that we can’t directly control how we feel—We can’t simply dial up our joy levels any more than we can turn down our sadness levels. We can only change the way we feel indirectly by changing how we think and behave, two things we actually have direct control over.

This leads to a bit of a paradox: If we think of cheerfulness as a feeling or trait—something we just have or happen to feel sometimes—we’re giving up responsibility for and control over it. Which means we’re only allowing ourselves to feel cheerful when things in our life are going well.

On the other hand, if we think of cheerfulness as an action—something we do or think—it becomes something we have control over regardless of our circumstances.

Cheerfulness is a verb, not a noun

I said earlier that I almost always seem cheerful to others and even feel cheerful myself, but I still don’t think of myself as particularly cheerful. The reason is, I have a hard time acting cheerfully when I don’t feel cheerful and the circumstances of life don’t cooperate with my wishes.

Most of the time it’s easy for me to be cheerful. I have a very privileged and fortunate life, which makes it easy to maintain a cheerful mindset and outlook. I have a great job, a loving and supportive spouse, great kids, an awesome family, wonderful friends, etc. In short, I have a lot of things going for me which makes it easy to approach life with a cheerful attitude and cheerful behaviors.

But I have a really hard time being cheerful when things are not going well. When I’m under a lot of stress, or I’m in the middle of an argument with my wife, or I’m really disappointed in something, my cheerfulness wilts. Which is why I don’t consider myself a very cheerful person. Because I’m still not very good at being cheerful—thinking and acting in a cheerful way—when things are tough, when I don’t feel cheerful.

But it’s precisely when things are tough that cheerfulness matters most. That’s when it’s the most admirable and helpful.

To use another common example: It’s not hard to be cheerful and friendly with the barista at Starbucks when I’m on my way to my awesome job, in a nice car, having just had a really fun date night with my wife the evening before.

It’s much harder—but ultimately much more important—to be cheerful when I come home from work and I feel disappointed because my wife is stressed and upset after a long, difficult day with a couple rambunctious toddlers. But that’s exactly when cheerfulness is most important.

It’s times like these that it’s incredibly valuable and helpful to my wife if I can put my own petty expectations and frustrations aside, and be cheerful for her.

That’s cheerfulness. Cheerfulness means choosing to act in a cheerful way despite how we feel because it’s the right thing to do.

But that’s so fake and disingenuous, feeling one way and acting another. Isn’t it unhealthy to suppress how we really feel?

Acting cheerfully despite feeling upset isn’t suppression; it’s character.

Suppression is when we deliberately avoid a certain emotion because we’re afraid of it. If we were to act cheerfully because we were afraid of feeling irritable or sad, that would be suppression. In suppression, the object of our action is our feelings, specifically, avoidance of them.

Character or virtue, on the other hand, is recognizing that we feel one way (irritated, sad, afraid, etc.) and deciding to act according to our values despite those feelings pulling us in another direction.

Suppression is about making ourselves feel good. Character is about doing good.

When I’m frustrated with the little old lady in front of me in line, my initial reaction is to stay with the frustration and start ruminating on how wrong she is— Just use a damn credit card! I’m thinking in a way that lines up with my feelings (and makes me feel better, i.e. superior). In that sense, I am being genuine. But I’m being genuine to my feelings.

At the same time, I’m not being genuine to my values. I value being a thoughtful, empathetic person. I’d even settle for just not being a jerk. But this value can come into conflict with what I want on a base level—to feel good.

But, if I can catch myself in the act of mentally disparaging this poor woman, realize that it’s okay to feel frustrated and then choose to focus on something else (how lucky I am to be young and healthy, for example), I’m actually being genuine both to my feelings and my values.

Now, my behavior (mental behavior, in this case) is directed toward what I believe is the right thing (to be compassionate) rather than trying to boost my own ego and feel better.

The Virtue of Cheerfulness

By thinking about cheerfulness as a fixed and innate personality trait, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to practice being cheerful, a skill I believe our world desperately needs.

And while I can’t speak for the whole world, I think I can reasonably speak for some of the people I interact with regularly:

• I know my wife would really appreciate it if I could be more cheerful even when I felt frustrated or disappointed.
• My 4:00 pm clients would probably appreciate it if I could be more cheerful despite a long day full of frustrations and setbacks.
• My barista at Starbucks would probably appreciate it if I could manage a cheerful “Good morning” despite feeling like garbage because my daughter was up sick all night.
• The poor Indian telemarketer trying to eke out a livable wage by talking to pissed off wealthy Americans would probably appreciate it if I could let go of my irritation and cheerfully let her know that I wasn’t interested but I hoped she has a good rest of her day.
• My daughters would probably appreciate it if I cheerfully gave in every once in a while and read one more bedtime story even though it’s late and I’m tired.

Situations abound for opportunities to make the world a slightly better place by acting cheerfully despite “not feeling it.” But it’s difficult to do this when we think about cheerfulness as something we either have or don’t have—a fixed trait or personality type.

Instead, I believe we should start thinking about cheerfulness as a way of thinking and behaving, as a virtue that we aspire to.

Once we start acknowledging that cheerfulness is at least as much about our actions as it is our feelings, we give ourselves the opportunity to develop it and get better at it.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

16 Comments

Hi How are you small baby

Hi How are you small baby You are so cute????????

Thank you. This article is amazing and so important to hear in today’s world. I am giving a talk to a mothers group for daughters in a virtue leadership club. I’m sharing these point and referring them to this article. God bless you and your work.

Beautiful article. With a depth and angle i never thought about. Thanks alot

Ur a amazing person.. must say.. u change the one we think.. u see its all in the Brain.

Nick, thank you…I needed this. I’m going to work hard at it. I’ve got a great life, and family, and I need to put this into practice!

One of my favorite articles you’ve written. Thank you for equipping and reminding me to be cheerful!

Seems to me that in all the examples you cite, your definition of cheerfulness is strongly correlated with patience. It also is an aspirational virtue that is influenced by actions. This is an interesting read. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_78.htm

Thanks for writing this. I am one of the cheery people, I figure being anything else doesn’t do me any good. 🙂 I had never thought of it as a virtue though. It is very touching and empowering and will keep my positivity strong when the assholes roll their eyes at my laughter 🙂

I really like this Topic and I can learn new vocabulary from this text

Thank you for the article. It seems so easy to fall into bad habits instead of guarding our minds. So many good points and I appreciate you highlighting the immediate false rewards of feeling better than someone by looking down or condemning their behavior rather than just acknowledging that they do things differently. It is so refreshing to step back and to increase self awareness. With gratitude.

Nick, You made my day… again.

I never thought of cheerfulness as a virtue. I understand now that our actions make a significant impact on our mood. I consider myself very cheerful, but sometimes people misunderstand it. Thank you for all the knowledge you have given us.

Interesting perspective, nicely articulated- resonates with me. Cheerfulness takes HARD work indeed.

Awesome post. Cheerfulness and thanksgiving continually to God, is perhaps the full virtue.

100% BANG ON!

From someone described as cheerful ever since I was a teenager. I just hit 50. Prior to my teens, I was a hot-tempered arse! Always angry, entitled, and obnoxious!!

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“Be of Good Cheer”: 12 Ways to Become More Cheerful

11 Dec “Be of Good Cheer”: 12 Ways to Become More Cheerful

My “Year of Cheerfulness”

I know this firsthand after spending an entire year practicing cheerfulness. It was during one of my hardest years, during a time when I desperately wanted to feel joyful, yet knew I couldn’t. At least, not yet. So, instead, I figured I could act cheerfully, hoping perhaps it would bring me a little more joy.

And it did. My year of cheerfulness was one of my favorite years, not because life was easy or fun–it wasn’t–but because no matter what, I told myself, all I had to do was put on a smile and try to “be of good cheer.” The bible tells us to “be of good cheer” more than a dozen times, and what excellent advice it is. Cheerfulness calms us, strengthens our relationships, and can actually create more joy—in us and those around us.

As I wrote in Part 3: Year of Cheerfulness , of my memoir, This Is How We Grow , “I can act cheerfully even if I feel unhappy, stressed, or overwhelmed. I don’t have to feel joyful to be cheerful.” (p. 224) Again, that’s the great news—we don’t have to feel joyful to act cheerfully or even become a cheerful person. And don’t we all want to be a little more cheerful?

12 Ways to Act Cheerfully & Become a Cheerful Person

Here are 12 ways you can begin to practice acting cheerfully. And if you stick with it, eventually, these things just might help you become a more cheerful person, too.

1) Smile on purpose. Even when things are tough– especially when things are tough–smile. As I wrote about my year of cheerfulness, “this is my goal: to smile when I want to scream, hold my tongue when I want to complain, to laugh when I want to escape.” ( p. 224 )

2) Hold your tongue. When you feel the urge to complain, bite your tongue (and literally, if you need to). If you want to criticize something or someone else, refrain. Staying silent is a wonderful way to get us through stressful moments without saying or doing something we will later regret. If you still feel something needs to be said after thinking it through, then formulate a kind response. Cheerfulness can help us through tough confrontations.

3) Fake it ’til you make it.   I’ve written about this before, because it really is a helpful tool. When you’re not sure what to do, fake it. When you feel your stress levels rise and you’re about to lay into someone you love, fake it! I fake laugh when I’m particularly stressed, or pretend I know what I’m doing when faced with a tough new task. Sometimes, it just takes a little “faking” to help us “make it” cheerfully through.

4) Change your brain each morning. Our brains are naturally wired to focus on the negative throughout the day. Instead, wake up and tell your brain, “Your job today is to find all the good stuff.” Giving your brain a specific task helps calm the mind chatter and stress that can stand in the way of a cheerful outlook and attitude.

5)  Focus on creation . We feel “cheerful” when we are creating something good. Shift your focus from “overcoming a problem” to “creating a solution” or “creating a memory” or “creating a new you.” This creative shift can uplift and inspire us to behave more cheerfully. (For more on creation, read this. )

6) Admit the truth. Acting cheerfully doesn’t mean we ignore our true feelings. It simply means we don’t want our feelings to control how we are in the world. In fact, ignoring our true feelings can destroy cheerfulness. It’s important to check in with ourselves–to FEEL and grieve and process what’s really going on. We may not need to do it all day, with everyone we meet, but in safe places, with people we trust, we must get real and admit the truth. Say, “I don’t like this. I wish this weren’t happening. I wish I did not have to do this.” Let yourself feel the pain or discomfort. Then, when it’s time, get up and say, “I’m going to do it anyway, and doggone it, I’m doing it with a cheerful attitude.”

8) Take a Time-Out. Just like kids need a break once in a while, to regroup, so do adults. When cheerfulness feels like an impossibility, put yourself in a quiet place where you can breathe, lie down for a while, or just calm down. Then, put your smile back on and practice cheerfulness again.

9) Practice Gratitude. Gratitude is at the heart of cheerfulness, for when you are conscious of your gifts and blessings, it’s hard not to feel cheerful about them. For more on practicing gratitude, read 10 Benefits of Practicing Gratitude , 10 Ways to Practice Gratitude Today , & How to NOT Be UN-Grateful .

10) Practice Patience. Like gratitude, patience and cheerfulness go hand-in-hand. Cheerfulness helps you practice patience, and practicing patience leads to greater cheerfulness. For more ideas, read 20 Ways to Practice Patience Today .

11) Get in the “now”: pray, ponder, meditate, breathe . Take 5-30 minutes each day to slow down, breathe deeply, and pray, meditate, and simply ponder the goodness of life. This will help you focus on “the now.” Countless studies show the benefits of mindfulness, meditation, and prayer. So, when you need more cheerfulness, take a deep breath, relax, and pray. Using all your senses, focus on what’s all around you. Tapping into spiritual power and the present moment is essential to living a cheerful life.

12) Let go. One of the biggest barriers to cheerfulness is holding on to the past, worrying about the future, and letting negativity rule your mind. I know it’s not as easy as it sounds, but you must let it go. Work to get worry under control (read The Key to Worry-Free: The Worry Tree), forgive, focus on the here and now, let the past go. “Our past, once examined and processed, must be let go.” ( This is How We Grow, p. 314 ) Choose cheerfulness right now, and let the rest go.

Are you a naturally cheerful person? What have you done to “be of good cheer?” How does cheerfulness improve your life? Share with us by leaving a comment , below!

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I can do all of these. I am so grateful for my family & especially my two beautiful, smart, talented & kind daughters (can you tell that I’m a proud mom?) . Being a mother has taught me patience & how to smile on purpose & fake it! Admitting the truth is hard.because I admit that I can get.i stuck there. My biggest hardship is that my emotions tend to overwhelm me. They have a way of taking over & not letting go. I’m very embarrassed by this. To some people, I seem “out of control” & I feel this myself. After years of learning to admit the truth, I now have to learn to control these emotions that I am feeling for the first time. I’m a work in progress guess. I am very grateful for this blog . I can express myself with out worrying about being judged.

We are all a work in progress, Mary. I love that you are learning from your experiences and you have such insight. That is half the battle right there. Keep working on these things, and you WILL keep progressing. That’s the beauty of life–we can always progress. 🙂 xoxo

I do agree that we need to be cheerful even when we are experiencing some challenges. I also love the fact that we can tell our brain to knock it off. No negative talk. This is a daily battle for me and I read Joyce Meyers “Battle of the Mind” to get me through this. In John 8:32 it says ” And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” Which means that we are free from bondage, sin and strongholds on our mind. But searching for the truth will not set us free. We must be courageous enough to believe the Truth” (Joyce Meyers, “Battle Field of the Mind”). Thanks for your post which always helps me to grow.

I love that. It is the courage to believe the Truth that sets us free. Part of that truth is that we can choose our mood (at least most of the time). I love that you choose to be cheerful, too. Thank you, as always, for your insights!

Respectfully, I won’t be taking this advice. I don’t “act”, and I most certainly don’t “fake”. I quickly (and with great distaste) identify people who do….and I avoid them.

I’m no psychologist, but I’d bet that all this dishonesty eventually becomes internalized, to the detriment of one’s mental health.

I respect your opinion, Leigh. I believe, however, you misunderstood what I meant by “Fake it til you make it.” If you read the article I wrote about that (in the link), you’ll see I am definitely not advocating for anyone to BE fake. I agree with you–I can quickly identify “fake” people and steer clear of them, too. Instead, I’m saying it’s often better to TRY to feel or act a little more cheerful when you’re in a bad mood instead of acting out in negativity and saying or doing things that bring you or everyone around you down.

There is certainly a time and a place for expressing negative emotions, and I’m a big advocate of that (see my article, FEEL). But we have a choice in letting our negativity pour out into the world in unhealthy ways–or not. Our emotions come and go like the weather, and we don’t and shouldn’t always give in to them, especially if they cause more negativity and stress for us and those around us in the long run.

And yes, the research shows that we do internalize some of that “faking,” but not in negative ways. When we choose to put on a smile and act cheerfully (even if we don’t really feel it) we often end up feeling a little more positive, more cheerful, and even happier, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. I would never tell people to fake who they are or how they feel long-term. But I’ve found, in my own life and in my client’s lives, that sometimes, putting on a smile actually does make you feel a little more cheerful inside.

Thank you – this is really quite insightful and I appreciate the practical tips on how to implement this in my daily life. As a 53-yr old male I am learning how to not allow my circumstances to control how cheerful I am. Even though I have a great business, healthy relationships and I have opportunity to serve regularly and meaningfully, I can feel overwhelmed and stressed, and I’ve allowed those feelings to rob me of my joy. Uncertainty causes stress, like for most humans.

One of the lessons I have learned over the past 3-5 years is that it’s ok to experience emotions, even negative or painful ones. God gave me he capacity to feel these emotions and they exist to tell me something that needs processing. I know someone who was incapable of crying for many years due to her survival mechanism growing up in a highly abusive home – her flight or fight system somehow shut off that emotion. She has now worked through much of that and is can shed tears of joy and pain.

My daily life is filled with happiness and sadness, joyful and painful moments, feelings of success and letdown – as well as hundreds of other moments throughout my day. I don’t have to let my circumstances dictate my outlook. If I want to choose one set of experiences and feelings to define my countenance and inner feelings, I’d rather choose the happy ones. The rest of them I’ll listen to what they are telling me and then set them aside to disable them. Our emotions aren’t binary – all happy or all sad – they are both. I am learning how to implement this in my life.

Thanks for the great article. I googled “how to be more cheeful” and found your article. I am going to spend some time reading the rest of your website.

Thank you so much, Cal, for your comments. I am grateful you found me and that this has been helpful. And I am especially grateful for your important reminder that emotions are just emotions–that we have all kinds of emotions each day, and that’s just the way it is. You’re so right; when we allow ourselves to feel the good and the not so good emotions, we allow them to pass through us, and we can experience more cheer despite what comes. Wishing you the best in your “cheerful” journey!

I find this article inspiring and gives me hope. Due to a fairly recent medical diagnosis and a challenging marriage I feel very little joy. What bothers me most is the way I’m presenting to the world and the negative energy I put out there. I realize what a waste of time it is to walk around looking and feeling miserable. Just because things are tough doesn’t mean I can’t still make the most of a great day and smile at what is good. Life is precious, I want use it wisely with a smile. I’m going to give these steps a try!

I want to be a cheerfull and happiest person and tension free mind. I want to come out from stress, negative thoughts and sadness.

I think we all want this. But it is just so hard to do, especially in a world that seems to create or bring to our attention stress and negativity, all the time. I have found that “cheerful” is really just a choice. “I can be cheerful even if I don’t FEEL super happy.” That kind of thing. And often, it helps us feel happier. But for many, like me, it’s also a choice we have to make over and over, every single day.

Thank you for this guidance. Prior to this, I have had no idea or help on how to be cheerful. It’s especially difficult on multiple levels watching my mother age.

What a blessing to read this article in a time when we are bombarded with negativity almost constantly on the “enterwebs” and media! I need to read this article over and over and try to memorize each and every way to be cheerful. I want to be a light in the room and spread good cheer! Praising God for His Creation always helps my mind and mood. He is everywhere in the smallest things! Being thankful, recognizing the blessings and being grateful for them perk me up! This article truly life changing/healing information. Thank you!

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What is a Cheerful Personality Type?

If you’re looking for a friendly and upbeat personality type, the Cheerful type is perfect for you!

This personality is always optimistic and loves to make others happy.

If you’re curious about what it’s like to have a Cheerful in your life, read on!

You’ll find out everything you need to know about this fun-loving type.

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So, what is a Cheerful personality and what does it mean?

Here’s a quick definition:

A cheerful personality type is someone who is optimistic and positive, even in difficult situations.

They enjoy social interactions and making others feel good.

They tend to be extroverted and enjoy being around people.

Cheerful personality types are also often highly creative and expressive.

They may be drawn to artistic pursuits, such as painting or music.

They may also enjoy being outdoors, and spending time in nature.

Whatever their particular interests, cheerful personality types radiate positive energy and bring joy to those around them.

What Are Cheerful Personality Characteristics & Traits?

Here are some of the most common characteristics and traits of someone who has a Cheerful personality type:

• They are always looking on the bright side of life
• They’re optimistic and think positively about the future
• Cheerful types enjoy being around other people and making them happy
• They have a good sense of humor and like to laugh and joke around
• They are energetic and always up for doing something fun
• Cheerfuls tend to be positive and upbeat in all situations

Cheerful Personality Examples

Some people are just naturally cheerful, and their sunny dispositions seem to win them friends and admirers wherever they go.

If you’re looking for some famous faces to brighten up your day, here are just a few of the many celebrities who are known for their cheerfulness:

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most famous Cheerful people on the planet.

She’s built an empire on her positive attitude and her ability to make everyone around her feel good.

Oprah is proof that Cheerful people can achieve anything they set their minds to.

Ellen DeGeneres is another Cheerful celebrity who has won legions of fans with her warm personality and her contagious sense of humor.

Ellen’s show is one of the most popular daytime programs on television, and she always seems to bring a smile to her guests’ faces.

Finally, no list of Cheerful celebrities would be complete without mention of Jim Carrey.

This funnyman is known for his over-the-top comedic performances, but he’s also a guy who always seems to be enjoying life.

Jim is living proof that Cheerful people really do have more fun.

How Can You Tell If You Have a Cheerful Personality Type?

How can you tell if you have a Cheerful personality type?

Some key indicators are that you tend to be optimistic, enjoy socializing, and have an easy time experiencing positive emotions.

You might also find that you’re more likely than others to take risks, seize opportunities, and embrace change.

If this sounds like you, then it’s likely that you have a Cheerful personality type.

Other traits of this personality type include being generous , good-natured, and fun-loving.

So if you’re looking for ways to tell if you have a Cheerful personality type, keep an eye out for these key indicators.

Benefits of Having a Cheerful Personality Type

Research shows that people with a cheerful personality type tend to live longer, have lower levels of stress, and experience more positive emotions than those who do not.

They are also more likely to develop strong social ties and to be successful in their careers.

In addition, cheerful people tend to be more optimistic and resilient in the face of adversity.

These qualities allow them to bounce back from setbacks more quickly and to enjoy a greater sense of well-being overall.

So if you’re looking for ways to improve your health and happiness, cultivating a more cheerful outlook on life may be a good place to start.

Challenges of Having a Cheerful Personality Type

To the outside world, people with a Cheerful personality type always seem to be happy and content.

But what most people don’t realize is that behind that cheerful facade, Cheerfuls can be in a struggle to maintain their positive attitude.

One of the biggest challenges that Cheerfuls face is the constant pressure to remain upbeat and optimistic.

This can be extremely draining, both emotionally and mentally.

Another challenge that Cheerfuls often face is being seen as naive or gullible.

Because they are so trusting and eager to please, Cheerfuls can sometimes be taken advantage of by others.

Finally, Cheerfuls often have a hard time dealing with negative emotions.

Because they are so used to putting on a happy face, they often bottle up their feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration.

This can lead to emotional outbursts or self-destructive behaviors down the road.

Despite these challenges, people with a Cheerful personality type are some of the most compassionate and kind-hearted people you will ever meet.

They derive great joy from making others happy, and they are always quick to lend a helping hand.

So next time you see someone with a perpetual smile on their face, take a moment to appreciate the inner strength it takes to keep that smile there.

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Character Trait: Cheerful

The ProWritingAid Team

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait Cheerful refers to a person who is full of happiness, optimism, and positive energy. A cheerful person is often seen with a smile on their face and can brighten up a room with their presence. They are typically easy-going and have a positive outlook on life, even in challenging situations. Cheerful people tend to be friendly and approachable, making them a joy to be around.

Possible causes of being cheerful

Behaviors associated with being cheerful, attitudes associated with being cheerful, thoughts and struggles associated with being cheerful, emotions associated with being cheerful, facial expressions associated with being cheerful, body language associated with being cheerful, growth and evolution of cheerful characters, stereotypes of cheerful characters to avoid, negatives of being cheerful, positives of being cheerful, verbal expressions of cheerful characters, relationships of cheerful characters, examples from books of characters who are cheerful, writing exercises for writing cheerful characters.

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Natural disposition towards positivity and optimism
• Strong social support network and healthy relationships
• Mindful and intentional focus on gratitude and positive self-talk
• Active pursuit of personal growth and development
• Regular exercise and healthy habits promoting physical and mental wellness
• Successful coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and adversity
• Regular engagement in activities that bring joy and happiness
• Positive upbringing and environment

For detailed feedback on cheerful characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's plot analysis software .

You may be able to show your character's trait of cheerful by using these.

• Being supportive and encouraging
• Being friendly and approachable
• Being enthusiastic and energetic
• Having a positive attitude towards life's challenges
• Being optimistic and hopeful
• Showing empathy and compassion towards others
• Smiling often and being positive
• Expressing gratitude and appreciation for others
• Laughing frequently and having a good sense of humor

You may be able to show cheerful through their attitudes.

• Playfulness
• Approachability
• Friendliness
• Contentment
• Lightheartedness

Here are some ideas for things your cheerful character may think or struggle with.

• They may worry that others will not be able to handle their negative emotions, and so they keep them bottled up.
• A cheerful character may struggle with maintaining their positive attitude in difficult situations.
• They may feel guilty for feeling sad or angry, as if their cheerful demeanor is a facade.
• They may struggle with feeling like they always have to be the one to cheer others up, and feel drained by constantly putting on a happy face.
• They may feel like they are not taken seriously because of their cheerful personality.
• They may feel pressure to always appear happy and upbeat, even when they are not feeling that way.
• They may have a fear of being perceived as fake or insincere.

Here are some ideas for emotions your cheerful character may experience.

• Light-heartedness

Here are some facial expressions your cheerful character may exhibit.

• A bouncy or energetic demeanor
• A relaxed, open mouth
• Blushing or a warm glow in the cheeks
• Laugh lines around the eyes and mouth
• A slightly tilted head
• A playful or mischievous expression
• Bright, twinkling eyes
• Raised eyebrows
• Smiling widely with teeth showing

Here is some body language your cheerful character may exhibit.

• Upright posture with shoulders back and chest open
• Leaning forward in interest
• Eye contact with a bright, positive expression
• Laughing or chuckling
• Lightly tapping feet or fingers to a rhythm
• Gesturing with hands while speaking
• Biting or licking lips
• Clapping or waving arms
• Speaking in an upbeat tone or with a lilt
• Smiling or grinning
• Tilting head or nodding in agreement
• Displaying open palms
• Bouncing or skipping while walking

Here are some behaviors your cheerful character may exhibit.

Here are some ways that your cheerful character may grow and evolve over time.

• Confront and overcome their own fears and insecurities, which can help them become a more well-rounded and relatable character.
• Develop a deeper appreciation for the struggles of others, which can lead to a greater sense of empathy and compassion.
• Learn to deal with setbacks and disappointments in a more constructive way.
• Learn to channel their cheerfulness in a way that inspires and motivates others, rather than being perceived as naive or shallow.
• Recognize the value of vulnerability and emotional honesty, rather than always putting on a happy face and pretending that everything is fine.
• Discover the importance of balancing optimism with realism, realizing that sometimes things don't always turn out the way we hope or plan.

Try to avoid writing stereotypical cheerful character like these examples.

• Avoid making the Cheerful character unrealistically optimistic or oblivious to reality.
• Avoid making the Cheerful character overly naive or simple-minded.
• Avoid making the Cheerful character constantly bubbly or hyperactive.
• Avoid making the Cheerful character one-dimensional or lacking in depth.
• Avoid making the Cheerful character insensitive to others' emotions or struggles.

Here are some potential negatives of being cheerful. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Being overly cheerful can come across as insincere or fake.
• Cheerfulness can be seen as a lack of empathy or understanding for others' struggles.
• In some situations, being cheerful can be inappropriate and insensitive.
• People may not take someone seriously if they are always cheerful, and may not trust them in more serious situations.
• Constantly being cheerful can be tiring and can lead to burnout.

Here are some potential positives of being cheerful. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• Being cheerful can help to improve communication and collaboration with others.
• It can help to motivate and inspire others, making it easier to achieve goals and objectives.
• Cheerful individuals are often perceived as more approachable, friendly, and trustworthy.
• It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve overall mental health.
• Cheerfulness can make people feel more positive and optimistic.
• It can help to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere in social situations.
• Being cheerful can also improve physical health, by reducing blood pressure and boosting the immune system.

Here are some potential expressions used by cheerful characters.

• "Great to see you!"
• "Let's have some fun!"
• "Hi there!"
• "What a wonderful surprise!"
• "Isn't it a beautiful day?"
• "I'm so happy to be here!"
• "Good morning/afternoon/evening!"
• "How are you doing today?"
• "You always put a smile on my face!"

Here are some ways that being cheerful could affect your character's relationships.

• Cheerful people tend to have positive and optimistic attitudes towards others.
• They may be good at diffusing tense situations or conflicts with their positive energy.
• Cheerful people may be good at creating and maintaining strong friendships due to their positive outlook on life.
• They are often seen as approachable and trustworthy, which can lead to deeper and more meaningful relationships.
• Cheerful individuals may struggle with connecting with more serious or introverted personalities, as they may not understand their perspective.
• Cheerful individuals can help to uplift the mood of others and create a positive environment.
• They are often easy to approach and friendly with strangers.
• Winnie-the-Pooh from "Winnie-the-Pooh" by A.A. Milne
• Mary Lennox from "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Luna Lovegood from the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Scout Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
• Anne Shirley from "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery
• Pippi Longstocking from "Pippi Longstocking" by Astrid Lindgren
• Mary Poppins from "Mary Poppins" by P.L. Travers
• Elizabeth Bennet from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
• Willy Wonka from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write cheerful characters.

• Write a scene where your character faces a difficult situation. How do they maintain their cheerful demeanor? What coping mechanisms do they use?
• Write a scene where your character encounters someone who is feeling down. How do they react? What actions do they take to try and cheer the other person up?
• Start by creating a character profile for your cheerful character. What motivates them to be positive? What experiences have they had that helped shape their cheerful personality?
• Write a dialogue between your character and a friend where they discuss the importance of having a positive attitude.
• Write a scene where your character is in a public place and interacts with strangers. How do they spread their positivity to those around them?
• Write a scene where your character experiences a setback or disappointment. How do they handle it? How does their cheerful personality help them through it?
• Write a monologue from your character's perspective about what being cheerful means to them and why it's important.

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10 reasons to be cheerful.

In order to be cheerful, we have to understand that there are positives and negatives to everything, but also, we need to be able to put aside the negatives and look for the positives. Written by Ollie Coach, Belinda Wells.

Are you having a good day or a bad day? If someone were to ask you today, what have you got to be grateful for, what would you answer? In order to be cheerful, we have to understand that there are positives and negatives to everything, but also, we need to be able to put aside the negatives and look for the positives

So here, as the song says, are my 10 ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ and there are undoubtedly loads more. I’m sure you will be able to add many to the list and they will be different to mine. We are all unique after all!

In no particular order;

• The Weather

I’m sitting in my garden as I write. It is a beautiful day and so uplifting. And good weather really does lift our mood. As Brits we are often told that it’s the first thing we talk about when we meet someone! Well, that’s pretty true, I’d say! If it is a beautiful day as you read this then take time to immerse yourself in it. Allow yourself to relax and be thankful for it. And if it’s not such a nice day, then why not reflect. Remember the last glorious sunshine and allow yourself to be transported. And think of all the positives that it brings – plants and flowers, nature, our gardens….. mine as I sit and write.

A beautiful day can really make me feel blessed!

We all have the same amount of time in every day. But some of us spend it rushing around so fast that it goes really quickly! Believe it or not, the slower your pace of life, the more time you seem to have. Some of us spend our time worrying about things. There are things we have no control over, so to worry about them is only surrendering to their negativity. We all have the same 24 hours a day. Time, to spend in any positive way we choose. If we wish to. Time to Read, Reflect, Relax, Re-think and Regroup. To look and to see what good things are actually happening if we open our eyes to them. However small they are.  It is so much healthier and more rewarding to focus on spending our time positively. It gets the endorphins working which boosts pleasure and enhances wellbeing. Just as being out in the sunshine or in our garden can. That’s scientifically proven.

Kindness is out there in abundance right now. Kindness, Concern, Recognition, Humility, Courage, Resilience, Charity and Hope. It is all there if we look. We hear about the NHS, Delivery Drivers, Carers, Supermarket Staff – there are so, so many! There is a whole wave of touching personality traits that we may previously have missed in people! And how we treat each other is so important! What we notice and recognise is too. It can make all the difference to someone. To us all.

• Superheroes

All of the above mentioned- and more! We are all superheroes in our own way. It shows in the way we are coping! In the way we are giving. In who we are. Mums and Dads, Children, Adults. All dealing with stress and relationships, but, doing it, and in a way we haven’t perhaps experienced before! Those on their own, elderly or alone. People who have not been able or allowed to work. Those who have had to work in extraordinary circumstances! Where would be, without all of them?

And not all superheroes wear capes! Look at Captain Tom Moore, raising millions for charity at the age of 99 by walking round his garden!

• Family and Friends

No matter what, or who, they are there. We miss them, but actually I probably keep in touch with some of them more often at the moment than I did previously, albeit virtually. I became a grandma at the end of April, and I am sure I feel, as many people in the same boat, it has been hard knowing that I could not go to meet the new baby and congratulate my daughter and her husband in person. But, better safe and well! And what a joy, to know that I have this to look forward to! And it really is a lovely daily thought to remind me that there is something great to come.

As a race, humans really need other people. We are social beings and we have a built in need to belong. So, friendships are really important.  When we take time to think about friendships we have made, it not only generates feelings of love but also feelings of gratitude too. Most of us have a few very good friends. Take to think back over times together.  It will make you smile!

• Food and Essentials

We have enough, despite some panic buying and a few who are still hoarding, there is enough to go round. And actually, a really great lesson I have learned is that – any brand is absolutely fine! They all do the job. Perhaps we will be less brand snobbish and a little more grateful for what we have in the weeks and months to come! I’ve also realised, to my horror, that I have probably spent far too much on luxuries or non-essentials in the past. And in learning to live during lockdown it has made me realise just how little I actually need, and yet still feel satisfied and happy!

• Achievements

What have you achieved in your life?  Sometimes we forget, and there are so many things we have all done that can be celebrated, however long ago or however small. Take a moment to look back at some of the things you have achieved and give yourself a pat on the back! Allow yourself to see who you really are through the eyes of someone who loves you. And take the credit for the successes you have had.

• Doing something worthwhile

If, like me you feel really privileged to be able to work in a career where you can really make a difference, then you will know why this would give me a reason to feel cheerful! So many people really do give back or pay it forward in life. And you should be very proud if you are one of them! Do you love what you do? Do you know that it is worthwhile? Then Celebrate! And if not, and you would like to, then it’s never too late to change direction. I know. I’ve done it more than once.

Here is one we have all, I’m sure taken for granted up until now! Perhaps this stark reminder will help us to appreciate our good health.  Certainly, anyone who has ever had a serious health scare themselves, will know that it is a often a catalyst to appreciating good health and it can also be a wake-up call to look at things in a different light. As a mentor of mine used to say, if you feel down because you have a broken arm, remember somewhere, there is a person who has two broken arms. And this may seem glib, and as it happens it probably is. But the point being, look at what you do have. You have one very good healthy arm!

And so, to the future! It is always there for us to make of it what we will.

I for one am really looking forward to mine! There is hope, there is love and kindness. There is such a great deal to look forward to, if we are positive. If we focus on the positives it stops us dwelling on the negatives. You can’t really feel negative and positive at the same time. And as we attract what we think about, I for one know that I would rather attract positivity! The future looks bright to me. I hope it does to you too.

Belinda Wells, Ollie Coach

Belinda is an Ollie Coach and Foster Carer. Previously a Primary School Teacher, she now has over 20 years’ experience working with children. Her interests are psychology, how we think and why we behave as we do, and she loves learning and writing.  Belinda enjoys seeing the difference her work as an Ollie Coach can make to the children and families she works with.

To get in contact with Belinda email [email protected]

To find out more about Ollie and his Super Powers and how to become an Ollie Coach go to www.ollieandhissuperpowers.com

Co founder of Subconquest Ltd, that trades as Ollie and his Super Powers. My many years of commercial experience is being put to good use managing the business side of Ollie, including working with our Ollie Coaches, and managing our contracts. In everything we do its about making a difference to those we work with. To find out more go to https://www.ollieandhissuperpowers.com/pages/about-us

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Personality, Humor Styles and Happiness: Happy People Have Positive Humor Styles

Thomas e. ford.

a Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, USA

Shaun K. Lappi

Christopher j. holden.

b Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

The present study examined the relationships between four personality traits, humor styles, and happiness. Replicating previous research, happiness was positively correlated with four personality traits: extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem, and optimism. Further, happiness positively related to self-enhancing and affiliative humor styles; it related negatively to self-defeating and aggressive humor styles. Thus, happy people habitually engage in positive uses of humor and avoid engaging in negative uses of humor in daily life. We also found support for our hypothesis. People high in extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem, and optimism are happier because they engage in positive humor in daily life.

Jordyn Wieber had this to say after winning a gold medal in the women’s gymnastics team competition in the 2012 Summer Olympics: “To have this gold medal around my neck right now is an indescribable feeling. I'm the happiest person right now.” It’s easy to understand why Jordyn Wieber would be happy after such a monumental achievement, but her happiness after winning an Olympic gold medal is, itself, not evidence that Ms. Wieber is a “happy person.” The happiness of “happy people” does not depend on life circumstances. Rather, happy people seem to have personalities that allow them to find happiness even in the midst of adversity and challenging life conditions.

Myers and Diener (1995) identified four personality traits that characterize happy people: extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem and optimism. In the present research, we consider the possibility that people endowed with these personality traits habitually use humor as an adaptive strategy to maintain happiness. We present evidence that the relationship between each of the four “happy personality traits” and happiness is mediated by a self-enhancing humor style.

Happiness is a complex construct. It is obvious and unmistakable; people generally know and can readily report whether they are happy or not ( Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999 ) yet they find it difficult to precisely define ( Freedman, 1978 ; Lyubomirsky, Tkach, & DiMatteo, 2006 ). Reflecting the intricacy of happiness, researchers generally define it as a multi-faceted construct, containing both a cognitive component—a subjective appraisal of life satisfaction, and an affective component—the relative preponderance of positive and negative emotions one experiences (e.g., Emmons & Diener, 1985 ; Lyubomirsky et al., 2006 ; Myers & Diener, 1995 ). Happy people, those high in subjective well-being (SWB), report more positive than negative thoughts and feelings about their lives ( Myers & Diener, 1995 ).

Research on the correlates of happiness has long been guided by a “bottom-up” approach emphasizing the impact of external life events and demographic variables ( Diener, 1984 ). Consistent with this bottom-up approach, research has shown that desirable life events (e.g., marriage, birth of a child, winning an Olympic gold medal) are associated with positive affect; whereas undesirable life events (e.g., divorce, health problems) are associated with negative affect ( Stallings, Dunham, Gatz, Baker, & Bengtson, 1997 ). However, it appears that people adapt to positive and negative events, and over time approach previous levels of overall happiness ( Brickman & Campbell, 1971 ; Headey & Wearing, 1992 ). In their classic study, for instance, Brickman, Coates, and Janoff-Bulman (1978) found that people adapted their level of happiness after even an extremely positive life event—winning the lottery—or an extremely negative life event —becoming paralyzed (see also Silver, 1982 ; Suh, Diener, & Fujita, 1996 ).

Similarly, demographic variables and quality of life indices (e.g., sex, race, age, education level, marital status, religious faith, income) appear to have only a modest relation with long-term reports of life satisfaction (e.g., Andrews & Withey, 1976 ; Argyle, 1999 ; Campbell, Converse, & Rodgers, 1976 ; Diener, Lucas, & Scollon, 2006 ). Campbell et al. (1976) , for instance, reported that only 17% of the variance in life satisfaction could be explained by 10 demographic variables.

Collectively, these “bottom up” findings highlight the importance of an alternative “top-down” approach ( Diener, 1984 ) that seeks to explain differences in happiness among people through stable personality traits. A large body of research has accumulated showing that personality traits are perhaps the most important correlates of happiness, explaining more of the total variance in happiness than demographic variables and quality of life indices (e.g., Andrews & Withey, 1976 ; DeNeve & Cooper, 1998 ; Diener, Suh, Lucas, & Smith, 1999 ; Gutiérrez, Jiménez, Hernández, & Puente, 2005 ).

Myers and Diener (1995) proposed that four personality traits, in particular, are strongly related to happiness: extraversion, locus of control, self-esteem, and optimism. These personality traits are thought to relate to happiness through two different mechanisms ( Lyubomirsky, Tkach, & DiMatteo, 2006 ; McCrae & Costa, 1991 ). First, they can function through a temperamental mechanism; they predispose people to feel positive or negative emotions that influence self-reported happiness. Second, they can function through an instrumental mechanism; personality traits predispose people to seek out certain situations or activities, which in turn influence happiness.

Extraversion

Among the four personality traits Myers and Diener (1995) identified, extraversion has received the most attention because it is one of the dimensions of the Five Factor Model of Personality, the predominant psychological paradigm for studying personality (e.g., Gosling & John, 1999 ; McCrae & Costa, 1999 ). In studies that group personality traits in terms of the Five Factor Model, extraversion has emerged as a particularly important and consistent correlate of happiness (e.g., Costa & McCrae, 1980 ; Diener & Lucas, 1999 ; Diener, Sandvik, Pavot, & Fujita, 1992 ; Gutiérrez et al., 2005 ; Hayes & Joseph, 2003 ). Hayes and Joseph (2003) , for instance, reported that extraversion and neuroticism were the best predictors of scores on the Oxford Happiness Inventory.

Temperamentally, extraverts may be predisposed to experience positive emotions ( Costa & McCrae, 1980 ) and experience positive events more intensely than those low in extraversion ( Larsen & Ketelaar, 1989 ). Instrumentally, extraverts are happier because they have better social skills ( Argyle & Lu, 1990a , 1990b ) and experience greater social support ( Lu, Shih, Lin, & Ju, 1997 ; Lyubomirsky et al., 2006 ).

Locus of Control

Rotter (1966) described locus of control in terms of people’s expectations about the degree to which reinforcement that follows behavior is under internal control (i.e., contingent upon behavior, determined by one’s own actions) versus external control (i.e., not contingent upon behavior, determined by outside forces). People with an internal locus of control believe that their behavior causes outcomes that follow; thus they believe they have control over outcomes in most situations. In contrast, people with an external locus of control do not believe in the causal effect of their behavior on outcomes they experience in most situations; they attribute outcomes in most situations to external sources (e.g., luck, chance, fate or other people).

As Myers and Diener (1995) suggested, happy people are more likely to have an internal locus of control ( Cummins & Nistico, 2002 ; Larson, 1989 ; Lu et al., 1997 ; Pannells & Claxton, 2008 ). Larson (1989) found that people who reported a higher internal locus of control in their daily lives also reported greater happiness. Consistent with this finding, Cummins and Nistico (2002) reviewed nine studies that examined the relationship between internal locus of control and life satisfaction. They reported correlations that ranged from .16 to .57 with an average correlation of .41. They also reported that the relationship between locus of control and happiness increases with age.

Lu et al. (1997) suggested that locus of control has primarily a direct, temperamental relationship with happiness, not mediated by social support like extraversion is. However, it is possible that locus of control has an instrumental link to happiness too. People high in internal locus of control tend to be more creative ( Glover & Sautter, 1976 ; Pannells & Claxton, 2008 ). Thus, they may be better able to engage in cognitive strategies to attain happiness. Finally, Argyle (2001) suggested that people attend less to negative life events insofar as they have an internal locus of control.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to the evaluative aspect of self-knowledge that is concerned with the degree to which people like themselves ( Brown & Marshall, 2006 ). In other words, self-esteem captures the amount of personal value that individuals place on their self, as whole, or in different domains ( Brown & Marshall, 2006 ). Self-esteem has been shown to have a strong relation to happiness ( Cummins & Nistico, 2002 ; Diener, 1984 ) particularly in individualistic cultures ( Diener & Diener, 1995 ). In general, people high in self-esteem are happier than those low in self-esteem ( Argyle, 2001 ; Campbell, 1981 ; Cheng & Furnham, 2003 ). In addition, Lyubomirsky et al. (2006) found that self-esteem was positively correlated with optimism, and negatively correlated with hopelessness raising the possibility that self-esteem relates to happiness instrumentally, by predisposing people to view themselves as efficacious and to hold positive expectations about their lives ( Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, & Vohs, 2003 ).

Optimism is a dispositional quality that predisposes people to expect positive outcomes in life ( Scheier & Carver, 1985 ). Research has shown that optimism is strongly related to overall happiness (e.g., Cummins & Nistico, 2002 ; Dember & Brooks, 1989 ) and life satisfaction ( Lucas, Diener, & Suh, 1996 ) as well as greater positive affect ( Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000 ) and less negative affect ( Scheier & Carver, 1992 ). Optimism appears to relate to happiness instrumentally. When optimists encounter challenges they seem to employ more effective coping strategies, which in turn increases happiness (e.g., Taylor, Kemeny, Aspinwall, Schneider, & Rodriguez, 1992 ). Aspinwall and Taylor (1992) , for instance, found that college freshmen higher in optimism engaged in more active coping strategies; those low in optimism employed more avoidant strategies.

Humor Styles

Historically, researchers have regarded sense of humor has an exclusively adaptive and positive unitary disposition ( Cann, Stilwell, & Taku, 2010 ). Martin, Puhlik-Doris, Larsen, Gray, and Weir (2003) , however, distinguished between four humor styles or ways that people habitually use humor in daily life. Two of the humor styles, affiliative and self-enhancing are positive or beneficial to the self or others; the other two, aggressive and self-defeating are negative or detrimental to the self or others.

Martin et al.’s (2003) model has greatly elucidated the complex and often counter-intuitive relationship between humor and well-being. It has revealed that, depending on how it is used in daily life, humor can positively or negatively relate to a wide variety of manifestations of psychological well-being. See Cann and Collette (2014) and Martin (2007) for reviews.

People who have an affiliative humor style use humor to attain interpersonal or social rewards. They use humor to entertain others in order to enrich the quality of social relationships. People who have a self-enhancing humor style use humor to achieve intrapersonal rewards, that is, to enhance or maintain positive psychological well-being and distance themselves from adversity. They maintain a humorous outlook on life, coping with difficult circumstances by viewing them from a humorous perspective. Thus, self-enhancing humor is closely related to coping sense of humor ( Cann et al., 2010 ; Martin et al., 2003 ).

Those with an aggressive humor style use humor, not to make interpersonal relationships more rewarding for the self and others, but rather as a means of criticizing or manipulating others. They tease and ridicule others to demonstrate their superiority over others, without concern for others’ well-being ( Martin et al., 2003 ). Not surprisingly, the aggressive humor style has been shown to be detrimental to interpersonal relationships (e.g., Cann, Zapata, & Davis, 2011 ; Kuiper, Kirsh, & Leite, 2010 ). Finally, people who have a self-defeating humor style poke fun at their own weaknesses in order to ingratiate themselves to others. They also use humor as a means to avoid confronting problems and dealing with negative feelings ( Stieger, Formann, & Burger, 2011 ).

There has been an increasing interest in recent years in the relationship between humor styles and psychological well-being ( Cann & Collette, 2014 ). Research has consistently shown that happiness is positively related to the two adaptive humor styles and negatively related to the two maladaptive humor styles (e.g., Ford, McCreight, & Richardson, 2014 ; Martin et al., 2003 ). Martin et al. (2003) , for instance, reported that the Ryff (1989) measure of psychological well-being related positively to affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles and negatively to a self-defeating humor style. Furthermore, Martin et al. noted that anxiety and depression correlated negatively with affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles but positively with self-defeating humor style.

Cann et al. (2010) further demonstrated that the two self-directed humor styles (self-enhancing and self-defeating) are particularly strongly related to happiness. When they regressed measures of subjective well-being onto all four humor styles simultaneously only self-enhancing and self-defeating humor styles significantly predicted well-being. Similarly, Cann and Collette (2014) reported that among the four humor styles, only self-enhancing humor reliably contributed to stable positive affect ratings over a seven-day period.

In addition, researchers have found that positive and negative humor styles relate differently to personality traits associated with happiness. Yue, Hao, and Goldman (2010) , for instance, found that affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles correlated positively with optimism, whereas aggressive and self-defeating humor styles correlated negatively with optimism. Similarly, self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor relate positively to self-esteem and judgments of self-competence. Aggressive and self-defeating humor styles, in contrast, are associated with lower self-esteem, and negative judgments of self-competence ( Kuiper, Grimshaw, Leite, & Kirsh, 2004 ; Lui, 2012 ; Zeigler-Hill & Besser, 2011 ).

Finally, the two adaptive humor styles appear to mediate the relationship between personality traits and happiness. Lui (2012) found that the relationship between self-esteem and happiness was mediated by self-enhancing and affiliative humor styles but not by self-defeating or aggressive humor styles. Similarly, in a study of affective styles and happiness, Ford et al. (2014) found that “approach-oriented” people, those scoring high on Carver and White’s (1994) Behavioral Activating System (BAS) scale, were happier in part, because they habitually used a self-enhancing humor style in daily life. Thus, it appears that engaging in positive humor styles, perhaps especially a self-enhancing humor style, might be an instrumental strategy by which people attain happiness.

The findings of previous research converge on a consistent and coherent story. Happy people tend to have four personality traits identified by Myers and Diener (1995) : extraversion, high self-esteem, optimism, and internal locus of control that function temperamentally and instrumentally in the attainment of happiness. Also, happy people habitually engage in adaptive humor styles, particularly self-enhancing humor.

In the present research, we extend this literature by testing a new hypothesis about a mechanism by which these personality traits relate to happiness. Based on the premise that personality traits relate to happiness instrumentally, through an active pursuit of positive experiences, we hypothesized that the relationship between the four “happy personality traits” and happiness is mediated by positive humor styles. That is, people with the four happy personality traits are happier because they engage in self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor in daily life—they maintain a humorous outlook on life, viewing adversity from a humorous perspective, and they use humor in interpersonal settings to enrich the quality of social relationships.

Participants and Procedure

We distributed a link to our study to 107 male and 87 female residents of the United States through Mechanical Turk (MTurk), an on-line participant pool sponsored by Amazon.com (for more information on data collection through MTurk, see Buhrmester, Kwang, & Gosling, 2011 ). Participants were paid $0.40 to complete the study. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 67 years, with a mean of 32.59 ( SD = 9.56). The mean age was 30.76 ( SD = 8.15) for males and 34.95 ( SD = 10.71) for females. There were 7 African-Americans, 107 Asians, 8 Hispanics, 2 Native Americans, 66 Whites, and 4 people who indicated their race as “other.”

Upon clicking a link to the study, participants accessed the study in Qualtrics. Participants first encountered the following instructions: “You are invited to participate in a study designed to determine how different personality traits are related to one another. For this study, you will complete six different personality surveys and five demographic questions.” After providing informed consent, participants completed the following measures of the “happy personality traits”: the Extraversion scale from Eysenck and Eysenck’s (1975) Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-E), Rotter’s (1966) Locus of Control scale (LOC), Rosenberg’s (1965) Self-esteem Scale (RSES), and Scheier, Carver, and Bridges’ (1994) Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). Participants then completed Martin et al.’s (2003) Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), and Hills and Argyle’s (2002) Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ).

Eysenck’s Personality Inventory-Extraversion (EPI-E)

Participants responded “yes” (coded as “1”) or “no” (coded as “0”) to 24 questions from Eysenck & Eysenck’s (1964) EPI-E designed to assess the degree to which they were generally extraverted or introverted (e.g., “Generally, do you prefer reading to meeting people?”). Higher scores indicate greater extraversion. Cronbach’s alpha for the scale was .68.

Locus of Control Scale (LOC)

Rotter’s (1966) LOC consisted of 29 pairs of statements. One statement of each pair reflected an internal locus of control (e.g., “People’s misfortunes result from the mistakes they make.”), and one reflected an external locus of control (e.g., “Many of the unhappy things in people’s lives are partly due to bad luck.”). Participants indicated which statement of each pair they agreed with more. We coded internal LOC statements as “1” and external LOC statements as “0”, thus, higher scores indicated greater internal LOC. Cronbach’s alpha was .65.

Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)

Rosenberg’s (1965) self-esteem scale consists of 10 items (e.g., “I feel that I'm a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others.”). Participants responded to each item on a scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). We averaged responses to the 10 items to form an aggregate measure of self-esteem. Higher scores indicated higher self-esteem. Cronbach’s alpha for the 10-item scale was .80.

Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R)

Scheier, Carver, and Bridges’ (1994) revised Life Orientation Test consists of 10 statements; 6 were designed to measure optimism (e.g., “In uncertain times, I usually expect the best.”). Participants indicated their agreement with each statement on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). We averaged responses to the six items to form an aggregate measure of optimism. Higher scores indicated greater dispositional optimism. Cronbach’s alpha for the 6-item scale was .66.

Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ)

Martin et al.’s (2003) HSQ consists of four 8-item subscales that measure the degree to which people habitually engage in affiliative humor (e.g., ‘‘I enjoy making people laugh”), self- enhancing humor (e.g., ‘‘Even when I’m by myself, I’m often amused by the absurdities of life’’), aggressive humor (e.g., ‘‘If I don’t like someone, I often use humor or teasing to put them down’’), and self-defeating humor (e.g., ‘‘I will often get carried away in putting myself down if it makes my family or friends laugh’’). Participants indicated their agreement with each item using a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). We averaged the responses for the four items of each subscale for each participant. Cronbach’s alpha was .77 for affiliative humor, .73 for self-enhancing humor, .58 for aggressive humor, and .83 for self-defeating humor.

Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ)

Hills and Argyle’s (2002) Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) consists of 29 items designed to measure enduring happiness or subjective well-being (e.g., “I am well satisfied with everything in my life.”). Participants indicated their agreement with each statement using a 6-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). We averaged responses to the 29 items to form an aggregate measure of dispositional happiness. Higher scores indicated higher happiness. Cronbach’s alpha was .92.

Descriptive Statistics

Table 1 displays the correlations among the four happy personality traits, the four humor styles and happiness.

Note. EPI-E = Extraversion, LOC = Locus of Control, RSES = Self-esteem, LOT-R = Optimism, SE-H = Self-enhancing Humor Style, AFF-H = Affiliative Humor Style, SD-H = Self-defeating Humor Style, AGG-H = Aggressive Humor Style, OHQ = Happiness.

*p < .05. ** p < .01.

Consistent with previous research, happiness correlated positively with each of the four happy personality traits, and with self-enhancing and affiliative humor styles. Finally, happiness correlated negatively with self-defeating and aggressive humor styles. Also, in keeping with our hypothesis, self-enhancing humor and affiliative correlated positively with each of the four happy personality traits. Thus, people higher in extraversion, internal locus of control, self-esteem and optimism also reported that they habitually use self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor in daily life.

Also, like Cann et al. (2010) , we regressed happiness simultaneously on all four humor styles. Unlike Cann et al., however, both self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor emerged as significant predictors of happiness (β = .29, SE = 0.06, t = 4.51, p < .001; β = .31, SE = 0.05, t = 4.62, p < .001 respectively). Thus, both self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor significantly related to happiness when controlling for each of the other humor styles. In contrast, self-defeating and aggressive humor styles did not significantly predict happiness when controlling for the effects of the other humor styles (β = -.12, SE = 0.04, t = 1.65, p = .10; β = -.06, SE = 0.06, t = -0.93, p = .35 respectively).

Mediation Analyses

We conducted a series of four mediation analyses to test our hypothesis that the relationship between the four happy personality traits and happiness is mediated by the four humor styles, with a particular interest in self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor. More specifically, we tested a path model wherein each of the happy personality traits acted as predictor variables, humor style acted as a single mediator, and happiness as the outcome variable. That is, a separate analysis was conducted for each humor style. We evaluated both direct paths between the personality traits and happiness and the indirect paths by which personality traits relate to happiness through humor style. We present the path model in Figure 1 .

Path Model illustrating our mediation hypotheses including labels for direct and indirect paths. We hypothesized that the relationship between personality traits and happiness is mediated by self-enhancing humor.

We used the PROCESS macro for SPSS to conduct the mediation analysis. This macro uses a bootstrapping procedure to obtain confidence intervals for the indirect effect ( Hayes, 2013 ), and has been demonstrated to have greater power than the causal steps procedures developed by Baron and Kenny, (e.g., Baron & Kenny, 1986 ). The bootstrapping procedure tests whether the indirect effect (i.e., the path from the personality traits to happiness through a humor style) is different from zero by providing a 95% confidence interval for the population value of the indirect effect ( Preacher & Hayes, 2004 ). If zero is not in the 95% confidence interval the indirect effect is significant at p < .05.

Finally, we conducted separate mediation analyses for each of the four personality traits. However, a seeding procedure implemented in the PROCESS macro linked the analyses, ensuring that each bootstrapping process begins with the same random number, in turn causing the confidence intervals between the four models to have the same bounds (see Hayes, 2013 , for an extended discussion). Thus, although these analyses were conducted separately in PROCESS, they can be considered as parts of the same larger mediation analysis. In sum, our analysis consists of four models that examine the mediating role of self-enhancing humor, affiliative humor, self-defeating humor and aggressive humor respectively. We present summary statistics for our mediation models in Table 2 , and further describe analyses for Models 1 and 2 i .

* p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.

As shown in Table 2 , a very similar pattern of results emerged across the four happy personality traits as predictors of happiness with self-enhancing humor (Model 1) and affiliative humor (Model 2) serving as mediators. Therefore, we describe the findings from both models across each of the four happy personality traits.

The total amount of variance in happiness explained by extraversion and self-enhancing humor in Model 1 was significant, R 2 = .38, p < .05. In addition, evidence of mediation emerged; extraversion had a significant positive indirect link with happiness through self-enhancing humor, as the 95% confidence interval did not contain zero. The total amount of variance in happiness explained by extraversion and affiliative humor in Model 2 was significant (but less than Model 1), R 2 = .14, p < .05. However, unlike Model 1, affiliative humor did not appear to mediate the relationship between extraversion and happiness. The 95% confidence interval did include zero.

The total amount of variance in happiness explained by locus of control and self-enhancing humor in Model 1 was significant, R 2 = .23, p < .05. In addition, evidence of mediation emerged. Locus of control had a significant positive indirect link with happiness through self-enhancing humor; the 95% confidence interval did not contain zero. The total amount of variance in happiness explained by locus of control and affiliative humor in Model 2 was the same as in Model 1, R 2 = .23, p < .05. And, like Model 1, affiliative humor emerged as a significant mediator; the 95% confidence interval did not include zero.

Similar results emerged for the two models in which self-esteem predicted happiness. The total amount of variance in happiness explained by self-esteem and self-enhancing humor in Model 1 was significant, R 2 = .51, p < .05. And, self-enhancing humor significantly mediated the relationship between self-esteem and happiness; the 95% confidence interval did not contain zero. The findings for Model 2, which included affiliative humor as a mediator were identical to those of Model 1. The total amount of variability in happiness explained by the model was R 2 = .51, and affiliative humor emerged as a significant mediator; the 95% confidence intervals did not contain zero.

Finally, the total amount of variance in happiness explained by optimism and self-enhancing humor in Model 1 was significant, R 2 = .39, p < .05. And, optimism had a significant indirect link with happiness through self-enhancing humor; the 95% confidence interval did not contain zero. Similarly, optimism and affiliative humor in Model 2 explained a significant amount of the variance in happiness, R 2 = .38, p < .05. And, like Model 1, affiliative humor emerged as a significant mediator; the 95% confidence interval did not include zero.

The results of our study contribute to the findings from several different lines of research. First, bivariate correlations replicate previous findings on the relationship between the happy personality traits identified by Myers and Diener (1995) and happiness. People reported being happy insofar as they were high in extraversion, personal (internal) control, self-esteem and optimism. Second, bivariate correlations replicated research showing that happiness is positively correlated with self-enhancing and affiliative humor styles (e.g., Martin et al., 2003 ).

Unlike previous research (e.g., Cann & Etzel, 2008 ), however, we did not find that self-enhancing humor more strongly related to happiness than affiliative humor when examined in a regression equation that simultaneously controlled for the effect of each of the other humor styles. We found that both self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor predicted happiness when controlling for the other humor styles. This discrepancy could be due to differences between studies in the magnitude of the correlation between self-enhancing and affiliative humor styles. In our study, the correlation was relatively modest (r = .21), whereas Cann and Etzel found a much larger correlation (r = .43). Thus, in our study, there appears to have been less conceptual overlap between the two adaptive humor styles. Consequently, when we simultaneously controlled for the effect of each of the other humor styles in a regression analysis, we were better able to detect a unique association between affiliative humor style and happiness.

In addition, the mediation analyses support our hypothesis and contribute to a growing body of research showing that humor styles mediate the relationship between personality and happiness (e.g., Ford et al., 2014 ; Lui, 2012 ). Positive humor styles mediated the relationship between each of the four happy personality traits identified by Myers and Diener (1995) and happiness. Consistent with the theory that personality traits relate to happiness instrumentally, our findings suggest that people who are high in extraversion, internal locus of control, optimism, and self-esteem have developed adaptive strategies of using humor in daily life, which in turn help make them happy. They experience greater happiness because they are better at finding strategies to regulate their emotions ( Baumeister et al., 2003 ), and the habitual use of positive humor is one of those strategies. Happy people may be adept at using positive humor styles as a means by which they frame or appraise life events to form positive, self-affirming views of the self ( Kuiper & McHale, 2009 ). Indeed, people protect their psychological well-being by using self-enhancing humor as a means of reframing stressors in a more positive, light-hearted way (e.g., Cann & Etzel, 2008 ; Cann et al., 2010 ; Martin et al., 2003 )

The one surprising exception to this pattern is that affiliative humor did not significantly mediate the relationship between extraversion and happiness. Perhaps the temperamental link between extraversion and happiness is particularly strong (e.g., Argyle & Lu, 1990a ; Brebner, Donaldson, Kirby, & Ward, 1995 ; Costa & McCrae, 1980 ; Pavot, Diener, & Fujita, 1990 ), and thus overwhelms or obscures the instrumental influence of mediator variables, especially those that do not have a strong influence.

Collectively, our findings contribute to the broader literature on the relationship between humor styles, personality and well-being (e.g., Besser, Luyten, & Mayes, 2012 ; Cann, Norman, Welbourne, & Calhoun, 2008 ; Dozois, Martin, & Bieling, 2009 ; Kuiper & McHale, 2009 ; Zeigler-Hill & Besser, 2011 ). One’s personality appears to function as a lens that colors the way people view themselves and social settings. The use of positive or negative forms of humor seems to follow from the valence of that general lens and thus contributes to a positive or negative sense of well-being.

Kuiper and McHale (2009) , for instance, found that humor styles mediate the relationship between beliefs about the self and low self-esteem. People who disproportionately focus on their negative attributes are particularly prone to engage in self-defeating humor and thus experience lower self-esteem. In contrast, people who have more positive self-beliefs engage in more affiliative humor, which in turn increases self-esteem and decreases depression. These results make sense in light of the Sociometer Theory of self-esteem ( Leary & Baumeister, 2000 ), which suggests that self-esteem functions as a gauge of the relational value others hold for you. That is, if others hold you in high regard, and are motivated to include you in their activities, you have high relational value. When individuals perceive that they have high relational value, their feelings of self-worth are bolstered, which results in high self-esteem. Our results also support the sociometer theory. More specifically, self-esteem was positively associated with self-enhancing and affiliative humor, whereas self-esteem was negatively associated with self-defeating and aggressive humor styles. Therefore, positive humor styles may be seen as desirable traits by others, and may function to foster relationships, whereas the negative humor styles may be seen as undesirable, or even offensive.

Additionally, the present findings have potentially interesting implications for future research on the relationship between humor styles and happiness. Like other studies investigating the correlates of humor styles, the present research treated humor styles as a personality variable in a non-experimental, correlational study. The findings of the present research, however, raise the possibility that inducing people to engage in adaptive forms of humor can have positive psychological outcomes. Future research could expand on the present findings by treating humor styles as an independent variable in an experimental design (see Maiolino & Kuiper, 2016 ; Samson & Gross, 2012 ) to investigate the effects of engaging in adaptive and maladaptive forms of humor on momentary (rather than trait) expressions of happiness. On the basis of the present findings, we hypothesize that engaging in adaptive forms of humor would enhance momentary happiness (i.e., increase positive affect, decrease negative affect), whereas engaging in maladaptive forms of humor would have the opposite effects.

Limitations

Our study makes a new contribution to our understanding of the relationship between personality traits, humor styles and happiness. It does, however, have limitations. For instance, Kashdan (2004) criticized our measure of happiness, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, for being too closely related to self-esteem and extraversion among other personality constructs. This conceptual overlap could inflate correlations between the OHQ and our measures of self-esteem and extraversion, or potentially lead to suppressor effects ( Friedman & Wall, 2005 ).

Although we agree that the conceptual overlap between the OHQ and personality variables of interest is a problematic, we do not believe that it has compromised the test of our hypothesis. First, Steel, Schmidt, and Shultz (2008) argued that the EPI overlaps less conceptually with positive affect in comparison to Eysenck and Eysenck’s (1975) EPQ. Accordingly, the EPI should be less vulnerable to inflated correlations with our measure of happiness. Indeed, the correlation between the EPI and the OHQ in our study was .37. Second, even if the bivariate correlations were inflated, there is no reason to believe that the mediation models testing our hypotheses would be compromised by the problems Kashdan (2004) has raised about the OHQ.

Additionally, it should be noted that this study is correlational in nature, and relies on the use of self-report. Therefore, the data are subject to sources of bias such as social desirability. Furthermore, the internal consistency of some of the scales used was relatively low (e.g., α = .66). Although the low alpha values warrant caution, they could be due, in part, to heterogeneity of the underlying constructs, and the number of items in the measures ( Nunnally & Bernstein, 1994 ; Tavakol & Dennick, 2011 ).

Finally, it should be noted that although we tested an underlying process model wherein humor styles mediate the relationship between personality and happiness, other possibilities exist. For example, Cann and Etzel (2008) found that engaging in a self-enhancing humor style increases optimism, hope and happiness, which in turn decreases perceived stress in one’s life. Self-enhancing humor seems to foster the development or activation of positive personality qualities that are associated with coping with the stresses of life. As Cann et al. (2010) suggested, it is possible that there are complex connections between stable personality traits, dispositional happiness and psychological responses to life events, and that humor styles play multiple roles in those connections. For instance, humor styles might play a mediating role in the relationship between personality traits and dispositional happiness (e.g., Ford et al., 2014 ). However, the relationship between humor styles and psychological responses to life events (e.g., stressors) can be mediated by other (instrumental) psychological variables or behaviors.

Personality is an important determinant of one’s happiness. As Myers and Diener (1995) stated, happy people tend to be extraverted, and optimistic; they tend to have a sense of locus of control, and high self-esteem. People with these personality traits engage in strategies that are instrumental in producing happiness. The present study reveals that the use of positive forms of humor, self-enhancing humor and affiliative humor, represents one such strategy.

Acknowledgments

The authors have no support to report.

Biographies

Thomas E. Ford is a Professor of Psychology at Western Carolina University. His research interests include the social consequences of disparagement humor, and the relationship between humor and subjective well-being.

Shaun K. Lappi is a M.A. student at Western Carolina University. He received his B.A. in psychology at Western Carolina University in 2014. His research interests focus on the social consequences of sexist humor, and the relationship between humor styles and happiness.

Christopher J. Holden is a doctoral candidate in psychology at Oakland University. He is interested in the connections between self-esteem and personality, and how these individual differences influence romantic relationships.

i Although each of the four mediation analyses were conducted, we chose to exclude the analyses for the aggressive and self-defeating humor styles for the sake parsimony. Furthermore, these humor styles were not found to consistently mediate the relationship between the happy personality traits and happiness. Aggressive humor style partially mediated the relationship between extraversion and happiness, whereas self-defeating humor partially mediated the relationship between self-control and happiness. These results are available from the authors upon request.

The authors have no funding to report.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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The Importance of Cheerfulness

For more than a week, I’ve spent most of my time in a rehab center. My 91-year-old mother broke her hip. I noticed one thing as I watched her and the people who care for her, as well as the other rehab patients. Cheerfulness makes almost anything bearable.

For a patient, it’s easy to get depressed, lose hope or feel frustrated. When you get injured, in pain, lose your independence, and are forced to live away from home, it’s difficult to feel positive or happy. Additionally, as a caregiver, seeing people in pain, depressed, angry, or frustrated every day can prove quite trying. It takes a lot of patience and compassion to serve others who are challenged by difficult situations.

Cheerfulness Makes the Job Easier

In both cases, cheerfulness makes the “job” easier. Put a smile on your face, say a kind word, crack a joke, or offer a positive thought. You’ll be amazed at the response you get from the other person—and at how much easier what you have to do becomes. Patients become more relaxed and willing to comply with requests, and caregivers become kinder and more willing to help and listen.

For example, my mother has been quite despondent. If a nurse smiles at her and jokes with her, she smiles and jokes back, even if she was complaining and unhappy previously. At that moment, you can see the stress leave her face and body. For even a few seconds, she’s happy or happier and less stressed.

When my mother works with a physical or occupational therapist who is cheerful and upbeat, she has more ability and desire to perform given tasks—including walking. These individuals help her feel more hopeful and capable.

When I’ve asked the caregivers how they manage to stay so cheerful, they all respond the same way. They say, “Being cheerful makes the job easier, so I just work at staying in that frame of mind. And it helps everyone—the patients and me.”

I’ve seen a variety of patients and residents in the rehab facility. Some are unhappy and unpleasant. Others are happy and pleasant. Who do you think makes the most progress? The second group of course. And who is easier to work with? The second group.

Approach Challenges with a Cheerful Attitude

We all encounter difficult situations in life. I wouldn’t say uprooting myself to care for my mother is easy, for instance. I’m away from my family, juggling my work, and spending long hours cooking for my mother and caring for her. I have a friend who has been flying to another state every other week to care for her elderly parents—and she has been doing it for three years—while she juggles work.

Your situation might be different. You could struggle with a horrible boss, long work hours, or a project from hell. Your marriage could be failing. Maybe you’ve had surgery or suffer from a long-term illness. You could have business or financial concerns.

The struggle or challenge doesn’t matter. A cheerful attitude makes whatever you are going through easier to bear. It also helps you deal with it with less stress.

I met a man at the rehab facility who has multiple sclerosis. He was there because his illness relapsed. He is always smiling and cheerful. He lives with his condition every day of his life, yet he doesn’t let it get him down.

Practice Cheer

What about you? Can you keep a cheerful countenance despite life’s challenges? Can you flow through your days with a smile on your face, and a kind and uplifting word for all you meet—no matter what is happening in your life or theirs? Can you make others happy and ease their pain simply by being cheerful?

It takes practice, but I know you can do it. Let your inner light shine, and the world will be a brighter place. After all, your essence isn’t dark and sad. It’s bright and cheery. Be cheerful, and you’ll see the light in every face that cheerfully reflects your light back at you.

If you want to find your inner light, I’d be happy to discuss how High Performance Coaching might help you fulfill your potential and live your life with more clarity, courage, energy, productivity, and influence—and cheer. To set up a 1-hour FREE High Performance Coaching session, click here . Then download the free session application, and submit it. I’ll contact you to schedule your session time.

3 thoughts on “The Importance of Cheerfulness”

I know that cheerfulness is important. I was in hospital for six months and I will always remember the people who helped me with their positive attitude. They helped me to maintain my spirit. I am forever grateful.

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What Does Happiness Really Mean?

It's not the same for everyone

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

Verywell/ Jiaqi Zhou

How to Cultivate Happiness

How to be a happier person.

Happiness is something that people seek to find, yet what defines happiness can vary from one person to the next. Typically, happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. While happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. 

When most people talk about the true meaning of happiness, they might be talking about how they feel in the present moment or referring to a more general sense of how they feel about life overall.

Because happiness tends to be such a broadly defined term, psychologists and other social scientists typically use the term ' subjective well-being ' when they talk about this emotional state. Just as it sounds, subjective well-being tends to focus on an individual's overall personal feelings about their life in the present.  

Two key components of happiness (or subjective well-being) are:

• The balance of emotions: Everyone experiences both positive and negative emotions, feelings, and moods. Happiness is generally linked to experiencing more positive feelings than negative ones.
• Life satisfaction: This relates to how satisfied you feel with different areas of your life including your relationships, work, achievements, and other things that you consider important.

Another definition of happiness comes from the ancient philosopher Aristotle, who suggested that happiness is the one human desire, and all other human desires exist as a way to obtain happiness. He believed that there were four levels of happiness: happiness from immediate gratification, from comparison and achievement, from making positive contributions, and from achieving fulfillment. 

Happiness, Aristotle suggested, could be achieved through the golden mean, which involves finding a balance between deficiency and excess.

Signs of Happiness

While perceptions of happiness may be different from one person to the next, there are some key signs that psychologists look for when measuring and assessing happiness.

Some key signs of happiness include:

• Feeling like you are living the life you wanted
• Going with the flow and a willingness to take life as it comes
• Feeling that the conditions of your life are good
• Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people
• Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life
• Feeling satisfied with your life
• Feeling positive more than negative
• Being open to new ideas and experiences
• Practicing self-care and treating yourself with kindness and compassion
• Experiencing gratitude
• Feeling that you are living life with a sense of meaning and purpose
• Wanting to share your happiness and joy with others

One important thing to remember is that happiness isn't a state of constant euphoria . Instead, happiness is an overall sense of experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones.

Happy people still feel the whole range of human emotions—anger, frustrastion, boredom, loneliness, and even sadness—from time to time. But even when faced with discomfort, they have an underlying sense of optimism that things will get better, that they can deal with what is happening, and that they will be able to feel happy again.

"Even people who have experienced terrible trauma can still also experience happiness," says Hannah Owens, LMSW , "though it is important to recognize that it might be more difficult for them to obtain the balance generally associated with overall happiness, and that their happiness might look very different from others' who have not had to deal with such challenges."

Types of Happiness

There are many different ways of thinking about happiness. For example, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle made a distinction between two different kinds of happiness: hedonia and eudaimonia.

• Hedonia: Hedonic happiness is derived from pleasure. It is most often associated with doing what feels good, self-care, fulfilling desires, experiencing enjoyment, and feeling a sense of satisfaction.
• Eudaimonia: This type of happiness is derived from seeking virtue and meaning. Important components of eudaimonic well-being including feeling that your life has meaning, value, and purpose. It is associated more with fulfilling responsibilities, investing in long-term goals, concern for the welfare of other people, and living up to personal ideals.

Hedonia and eudemonia are more commonly known today in psychology as pleasure and meaning, respectively. More recently, psychologists have suggested the addition of the third component that relates to engagement . These are feelings of commitment and participation in different areas of life.

Research suggests that happy people tend to rank pretty high on eudaimonic life satisfaction and better than average on their hedonic life satisfaction.  

All of these can play an important role in the overall experience of happiness, although the relative value of each can be highly subjective. Some activities may be both pleasurable and meaningful, while others might skew more one way or the other.

For example, volunteering for a cause you believe in might be more meaningful than pleasurable. Watching your favorite tv show, on the other hand, might rank lower in meaning and higher on pleasure.

Some types of happiness that may fall under these three main categories include:

• Joy: A often relatively brief feeling that is felt in the present moment
• Excitement: A happy feeling that involves looking forward to something with positive anticipation
• Gratitude: A positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative
• Pride: A feeling of satisfaction in something that you have accomplished
• Optimism: This is a way of looking at life with a positive, upbeat outlook
• Contentment: This type of happiness involves a sense of satisfaction

While some people just tend to be naturally happier, there are things that you can do to cultivate your sense of happiness. 

Pursue Intrinsic Goals 

Achieving goals that you are intrinsically motivated to pursue, particularly ones that are focused on personal growth and community, can help boost happiness. Research suggests that pursuing these types of intrinsically-motivated goals can increase happiness more than pursuing extrinsic goals like gaining money or status.  

Enjoy the Moment

Studies have found that people tend to over earn—they become so focused on accumulating things that they lose track of actually enjoying what they are doing.  

So, rather than falling into the trap of mindlessly accumulating to the detriment of your own happiness, focus on practicing gratitude for the things you have and enjoying the process as you go. 

Reframe Negative Thoughts

When you find yourself stuck in a pessimistic outlook or experiencing negativity, look for ways that you can reframe your thoughts in a more positive way. 

People have a natural negativity bias , or a tendency to pay more attention to bad things than to good things. This can have an impact on everything from how you make decisions to how you form impressions of other people. Discounting the positive—a cognitive distortion where people focus on the negative and ignore the positive—can also contribute to negative thoughts.

Reframing these negative perceptions isn't about ignoring the bad. Instead, it means trying to take a more balanced, realistic look at events. It allows you to notice patterns in your thinking and then challenge negative thoughts.

Avoid Social Comparison

Another way to cultivate happiness and to make sure that you are able to maintain your happiness, Owens says, is to stop comparing yourself to others.

"No two lives are alike, and focusing on what others have is a sure-fire way to feel envy and regret. Focus on the good things in your own life, and you'll be more likely to find contentment in them," she says.

Impact of Happiness

Why is happiness so important? Happiness has been shown to predict positive outcomes in many different areas of life including mental well-being, physical health, and overall longevity.

• Positive emotions increase satisfaction with life.
• Happiness helps people build stronger coping skills and emotional resources.
• Positive emotions are linked to better health and longevity. One study found that people who experienced more positive emotions than negative ones were more likely to have survived over a 13 year period.
• Positive feelings increase resilience. Resilience helps people better manage stress and bounce back better when faced with setbacks. For example, one study found that happier people tend to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and that these benefits tend to persist over time.
• People who report having a positive state of well-being are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in regular physical exercise.
• Being happy may make help you get sick less often. Happier mental states are linked to increased immunity.

Some people seem to have a naturally higher baseline for happiness—one large-scale study of more than 2,000 twins suggested that around 50% of overall life satisfaction was due to genetics, 10% to external events, and 40% to individual activities.

So while you might not be able to control what your “base level” of happiness is, there are things that you can do to make your life happier and more fulfilling. Even the happiest of individuals can feel down from time to time and happiness is something that all people need to consciously pursue.

Cultivate Strong Relationships

Social support is an essential part of well-being. Research has found that good social relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness. Having positive and supportive connections with people you care about can provide a buffer against stress, improve your health, and help you become a happier person.

In the Harvard Study of Adult Development, a longitudinal study that looked at participants over 80 years, researchers found that relationships and how happy people are in those relationships strongly impacted overall health.

So if you are trying to improve your happiness, cultivating solid social connections is a great place to start. Consider deepening your existing relationships and explore ways to make new friends. 

Get Regular Exercise

Exercise is good for both your body and mind. Physical activity is linked to a range of physical and psychological benefits including improved mood. Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise may play a role in warding off symptoms of depression, but evidence also suggests that it may also help make people happier, too.

In one analysis of past research on the connection between physical activity and happiness, researchers found a consistent positive link.  

Even a little bit of exercise produces a happiness boost—people who were physically active for as little as 10 minutes a day or who worked out only once a week had higher levels of happiness than people who never exercised.

Show Gratitude

In one study, participants were asked to engage in a writing exercise for 10 to 20 minutes each night before bed.   Some were instructed to write about daily hassles, some about neutral events, and some about things they were grateful for. The results found that people who had written about gratitude had increase positive emotions, increased subjective happiness, and improve life satisfaction.

As the authors of the study suggest, keeping a gratitude list is a relatively easy, affordable, simple, and pleasant way to boost your mood. Try setting aside a few minutes each night to write down or think about things in your life that you are grateful for.

Find a Sense of Purpose

Research has found that people who feel like they have a purpose have better well-being and feel more fulfilled.   A sense of purpose involves seeing your life as having goals, direction, and meaning. It may help improve happiness by promoting healthier behaviors. 

Some things you can do to help find a sense of purpose include:

• Explore your interests and passions
• Engage in prosocial and altruistic causes
• Work to address injustices
• Look for new things you might want to learn more about

This sense of purpose is influenced by a variety of factors, but it is also something that you can cultivate. It involves finding a goal that you care deeply about that will lead you to engage in productive, positive actions in order to work toward that goal.

Challenges of Finding Happiness

While seeking happiness is important, there are times when the pursuit of life satisfaction falls short. Some challenges to watch for include:

Valuing the Wrong Things

Money may not be able to buy happiness, but there is research that spending money on things like experiences can make you happier than spending it on material possessions. 

One study, for example, found that spending money on things that buy time—such as spending money on time-saving services—can increase happiness and life satisfaction.  

Rather than overvaluing things such as money, status, or material possessions, pursuing goals that result in more free time or enjoyable experiences may have a higher happiness reward.

Not Seeking Social Support

Social support means having friends and loved ones that you can turn to for support. Research has found that perceived social support plays an important role in subjective well-being. For example, one study found that perceptions of social support were responsible for 43% of a person's level of happiness.  

It is important to remember that when it comes to social support, quality is more important than quantity. Having just a few very close and trusted friends will have a greater impact on your overall happiness than having many casual acquaintances.

Thinking of Happiness as an Endpoint

Happiness isn’t a goal that you can simply reach and be done with. It is a constant pursuit that requires continual nurturing and sustenance.

One study found that people who tend to value happiness most also tended to feel the least satisfied with their lives.   Essentially, happiness becomes such a lofty goal that it becomes virtually unattainable. 

“Valuing happiness could be self-defeating because the more people value happiness, the more likely they will feel disappointed,” suggest the authors of the study.

Perhaps the lesson is to not make something as broadly defined as “happiness” your goal. Instead, focus on building and cultivating the sort of life and relationships that bring fulfillment and satisfaction to your life. 

It is also important to consider how you personally define happiness. Happiness is a broad term that means different things to different people. Rather than looking at happiness as an endpoint, it can be more helpful to think about what happiness really means to you and then work on small things that will help you become happier. This can make achieving these goals more manageable and less overwhelming.

History of Happiness

Happiness has long been recognized as a critical part of health and well-being. The "pursuit of happiness" is even given as an inalienable right in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Our understanding of what will bring happiness, however, has shifted over time.

Psychologists have also proposed a number of different theories to explain how people experience and pursue happiness. These theories include:

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

The hierarchy of needs suggests that people are motivated to pursue increasingly complex needs. Once more basic needs are fulfilled, people are then motivated by more psychological and emotional needs.

At the peak of the hierarchy is the need for self-actualization, or the need to achieve one's full potential. The theory also stresses the importance of peak experiences or transcendent moments in which a person feels deep understanding, happiness, and joy. 

Positive Psychology

The pursuit of happiness is central to the field of positive psychology . Psychologists who study positive psychology are interested in learning ways to increase positivity and helping people live happier, more satisfying lives. 

Rather than focusing on mental pathologies, the field instead strives to find ways to help people, communities, and societies improve positive emotions and achieve greater happiness.

Finley K, Axner M, Vrooman K, Tse D. Ideal levels of prosocial involvement in relation to momentary affect and eudaimonia: Exploring the golden mean . Innov Aging . 2020;4(Suppl 1):614. doi:10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2083

Kringelbach ML, Berridge KC. The neuroscience of happiness and pleasure .  Soc Res (New York) . 2010;77(2):659-678.

Panel on Measuring Subjective Well-Being in a Policy-Relevant Framework; Committee on National Statistics; Division on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Council; Stone AA, Mackie C, editors. Subjective Well-Being: Measuring Happiness, Suffering, and Other Dimensions of Experience [Internet]. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).

Lee MA, Kawachi I. The keys to happiness: Associations between personal values regarding core life domains and happiness in South Korea . PLoS One . 2019;14(1):e0209821. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0209821

Hsee CK, Zhang J, Cai CF, Zhang S. Overearning . Psychol Sci . 2013;24(6):852-9

Carstensen LL, Turan B, Scheibe S, et al. Emotional experience improves with age: evidence based on over 10 years of experience sampling . Psychol Aging . 2011;26(1):21‐33. doi:10.1037/a0021285

Steptoe A, Wardle J. Positive affect and biological function in everyday life . Neurobiol Aging . 2005;26 Suppl 1:108‐112. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.08.016

Sapranaviciute-Zabazlajeva L, Luksiene D, Virviciute D, Bobak M, Tamosiunas A. L ink between healthy lifestyle and psychological well-being in Lithuanian adults aged 45-72: a cross-sectional study . BMJ Open . 2017;7(4):e014240. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014240

Costanzo ES, Lutgendorf SK, Kohut ML, et al. Mood and cytokine response to influenza virus in older adults . J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci . 2004;59(12):1328‐1333. doi:10.1093/gerona/59.12.1328

Lyubomirsky S, Sheldon KM, Schkade D. Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change . Review of General Psychology. 2005;9 (2):111–131. doi:0.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111

The Harvard Gazette. Good genes are nice, but joy is better .

Zhang Z, Chen W. A systematic review of the relationship between physical activity and happiness . J Happiness Stud 20, 1305–1322 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9976-0

Cunha LF, Pellanda LC, Reppold CT. Positive psychology and gratitude interventions: a randomized clinical trial . Front Psychol . 2019;10:584. Published 2019 Mar 21. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00584

Ryff CD. Psychological well-being revisited: advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia . Psychother Psychosom . 2014;83(1):10‐28. doi:10.1159/000353263

Whillans AV, Dunn EW, Smeets P, Bekkers R, Norton MI. Buying time promotes happiness .  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 2017;114(32):8523‐8527. doi:10.1073/pnas.1706541114

Gulacti F. The effect of perceived social support on subjective well-being . Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences . 2010;2(2):3844-3849. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.602

Mauss IB, Tamir M, Anderson CL, Savino NS. Can seeking happiness make people unhappy? [corrected] Paradoxical effects of valuing happiness [published correction appears in Emotion. 2011 Aug;11(4):767]. Emotion . 2011;11(4):807‐815. doi:10.1037/a0022010

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Helpful Person — Being a Helpful Person, We Help Ourselves

Being a Helpful Person, We Help Ourselves

• Categories: Actions Helpful Person Helping Others

About this sample

Words: 865 |

Published: Aug 30, 2022

Words: 865 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Works Cited

• Grant, A. M. (2008). Does intrinsic motivation fuel the prosocial fire? Motivational synergy in predicting persistence, performance, and productivity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(1), 48-58.
• Schwartz, B. (2019). Why we work. Simon and Schuster.
• Brown, S. L., Nesse, R. M., Vinokur, A. D., & Smith, D. M. (2003). Providing social support may be more beneficial than receiving it: Results from a prospective study of mortality. Psychological Science, 14(4), 320-327.
• Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It's good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66-77.
• Piliavin, J. A., & Charng, H. W. (1990). Altruism: A review of recent theory and research. Annual Review of Sociology, 16(1), 27-65.
• Riess, H. (2013). The science of empathy. Journal of Patient Experience, 1(2), 74-77.
• Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131(6), 803-855.
• Aknin, L. B., Barrington-Leigh, C. P., Dunn, E. W., Helliwell, J. F., Burns, J., Biswas-Diener, R., ... & Norton, M. I. (2013). Prosocial spending and well-being: Cross-cultural evidence for a psychological universal. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(4), 635-652.
• Nelson, S. K., Layous, K., Cole, S. W., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2016). Do unto others or treat yourself? The effects of prosocial and self-focused behavior on psychological flourishing. Emotion, 16(6), 850-861.
• Midlarsky, E., & Kahana, E. (1994). Altruism in later life. Sage Publications.

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Essay on “Cheerfulness” for School, College Students, Long and Short English Essay, Speech for Class 9, 10 and 12 students.

Cheerfulness

The cultivation of cheerfulness.

Cheerfulness makes for success and happiness in life., cheerfulness makes sunshine for others..

Some people are naturally of a cheerful disposition. They habitually look on the lighter side of life, and even when the sky is clouded, they look forward hopefully to the sunny days that are coming. But all are not so. Many are by nature inclined to despondency. They see only the dark side of life and are easily discouraged and depressed. Such people should learn to cultivate cheerfulness; for it would be a great blessing to themselves, and to others.

A cheerful man is much more likely to make a success in his life than one who is always gloomy and sad. As the old verse says:

“A merry heart goes all the way, Your sad tires in a mile, O”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The cheerful man rises above trouble like a cork, while the despondent man sinks to the bottom like a stone. He faces difficulties bravely, and makes light of obstacles in his path; while the gloomy person makes a mountain out of a mole-hill, and cries, “There is a lion in the way!” And even when cheerfulness does not bring success, it brings happiness out of all sorts of little things which go unnoticed by the sad eyes of his gloomy brothers.

It is still more necessary to cultivate cheerfulness for the sake of our friends and companions. They have their own cares and worries, and we have no right to make life more difficult for them with our sighs and frowns and gloomy faces. A gloomy and sad person depresses everyone he meets and becomes an unwelcome companion; whereas a cheery friend makes life brighter for everyone. We must learn to hide our own troubles, to “consume our own smoke,” and, even when we feel sad, keep a smiling face and a cheery word for others. To force others to share our sad feelings is selfish. There is enough sorrow in the world without our unnecessarily increasing it with our own depression. Even at the cost of effort, we must rather increase the sunshine by our cheery presence.

A cheerful person is always more disposed to be happy than to be miserable. He looks at the bright side of things, and thus often derives pleasure from circumstances which would depress the spirits of an ordinary man. This being the case, to say that, cheerfulness promotes happiness, is as much a truism as to say that leads to the doing of just acts, and truthfulness prevents men from telling lies. We may go further, and say that cheerfulness promotes happiness more than anything else in the world. The cheerful beggar is far happier than the melancholy millionaire. As sources of happiness, neither wealth, nor fame, nor beauty, nor power, nay, not even health itself, can for a moment be compared with a cheerful disposition: As a rule, health and cheerfulness are associated together in the same persons; but, in the rare cases- when this is not so, we find that health fails to secure happiness and that a confirmed invalid may be happy in spite of weakness and bodily pain.

There are many delicate women; condemned by what seemed a cruel fate to pass their lives on a sofa who have by their cheerful endurance of the inevitable, so far conquered fortune as to be happy themselves and make all around them happy. So true it is that our happiness depends on ourselves, that is, on our minds, far more than on the gifts of fortune.

Another great advantage of cheerfulness is that it enables a man to do better work and prevents him from being easily exhausted. This truth is well expressed by the homely words of the Shakespearean Song, that tells us how A merry heart goes all day, Your sad tires in a mile”. The labourer who whistles over his work goes homeless tired and can work harder than another who as he labours, broods over real or imaginary troubles. This is also true of intellectual work, which is seriously impaired by depression of spirits. Therefore, as the cheerful man is happy himself, and by his cheerfulness adds to the happiness of all who come into contact with him, and in addition is enabled to work all the better because of his cheerfulness, it is a plain duty for everybody to do his best to cultivate a cheerful spirit.

But some will say that cheerfulness is a gift of nature, and cannot be attained by any effort of the will. There is a certain amount of truth in this objection. It is true that some men are born with cheerful dispositions and others with melancholy temperaments. Nevertheless, it is possible for the cheerful person to make himself more cheerful, and for the melancholy man to diminish his tendency to depression of spirits.

The two best means for the attainment of this desirable end are plenty of congenial work and attention to the rules of health. Although, as was said above, it is possible for the healthy to indulge in melancholy, it is almost always found that improvement of health promotes cheerfulness. A very large part of the melancholy in the world is due to preventable indigestion. The connection between cheerfulness and regular occupation is not quite so close, but the experience of life shows that the greatest depression of spirits is to be found among those who either won’t work or unfortunately cannot get work. Therefore, if we wish to be cheerful, we must be careful of our health and avoid idleness. By so doing we shall become more cheerful, and the effect will react on the cause; for we shall find that in its turn oily cheerfulness will improve our health and the quality of our work.

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616 Words Short Essay on Cheerfulness

A cheerful person is always more disposed to be happy than to be miserable. He looks at the bright side of things, and thus often derives pleasure from circumstances which would depress the spirits of an ordinary man.

This being the case, to say that cheerfulness promotes happiness, is as much a truism as to say that justice leads to the doing of just acts, and the truthfulness prevents men from telling lies. We may go further, and say that cheerfulness promotes happiness more than anything else in the world.

The cheerful beggar is far happier than the melancholy millionaire. As sources of happiness, neither wealth, nor fame, nor beauty, nor power, nay, not even health itself, can for a moment be compared with a cheerful disposition.

As a rule, health and cheerfulness are associated together in the same per­sons; but, in the rare cases when this is not so, we find that health fails to secure happiness, and that a confirmed invalid may be happy in spite of weakness and bodily pain.

Image Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com

There are many delicate women, condemned by what seemed a cruel fate to pass their lives on a sofa, who have, by their cheerful endurance of the inevitable, so far conquered fortune as to be happy themselves and make all around them happy. So true it is that our happiness depends on ourselves, that is, on our minds, far more than on the gifts of fortune.

Another great advantage of cheerfulness is that it enables a man to do better work and prevents him from being easily ex­hausted. This truth is well expressed by the homely words of the Shakespearian song, that tells us how “A merry heart goes all the day, the said tires in a mile.”

The labourer who whistles over his work, goes home less tired and can work harder than another who, as he labours, broods over real or imaginary troubles. This is also true of intellectual work, which is seriously impaired by depression of spirits.

Therefore, as the cheerful man is happy himself, and by his cheerfulness adds to the happiness of all who come into contact with him, and in addition is enabled to work all the better because of his cheerfulness, it is a plain duty for everybody to do his best to cultivate a cheerful spirit.

But some will say that cheerfulness is a gift of nature, and cannot be attained by any effort of the will. There is a certain amount of truth in this objection. It is true that some men are born with cheerful dispositions, and others with a melancholy temperament.

Nevertheless, it is possible for the cheerful person to make himself more cheerful, and for the melancholy man to diminish his tendency to depression of spirits.

The two best means for the attainment of this desirable end are plenty of congenial work, and attention to the rules of health. Although, as was said above, it is possible for the healthy to indulge in melancholy, it is almost always found that improvement of health promotes cheerfulness.

A very large part of the melancholy in the world is due to preventable indigestion. The connection between cheerfulness and regular occupation is not quite so close, but experience of life shows that the greatest depression of spirits is to be found among those who either won’t work or unfortunately cannot get work.

Therefore, if we wish to be cheerful, we must be careful of our health and avoid idleness. By so doing we shall become more cheerful, and the effect will react on the cause; for we shall find that in its turn our cheerfulness will improve our health and the quality of our work.

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Essay on Cheerfulness

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Judge says Nashville school shooter’s writings can’t be released as victims’ families have copyright

FILE - Covenant School parent Brent Leatherwood, center, listens during a status hearing in Chancellor I’Ashea L. Myles courtroom involving the release of records related to the the March school shooting Monday, May 22, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. The writings of a person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public. A Nashville judge ruled on Thursday, July 5, 2024, that The Covenant School children and parents hold a copyright to the documents given to them by the shooter’s parents. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

FILE - The entrance to the Covenant School is seen on the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting, March 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The writings of a person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public. A Nashville judge ruled on Thursday, July 5, 2024, that The Covenant School children and parents hold a copyright to the documents given to them by the shooter’s parents. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

FILE - Covenant School parents and their attorneys huddle in prayer outside a courtroom before a hearing to decide whether documents and journals of a Nashville school shooter can be released to the public Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The writings of a person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public. A Nashville judge ruled on Thursday, July 5, 2024, that The Covenant School children and parents hold a copyright to the documents given to them by the shooter’s parents. (AP Photo/Travis Loller, File)

FILE - A large painting decorates a remodeled hallway in The Covenant School Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The writings of a person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public. A Nashville judge ruled on Thursday, July 5, 2024, that The Covenant School children and parents hold a copyright to the documents given to them by the shooter’s parents.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - A roadside memorial is stands near the Covenant School on the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting, March 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The writings of a person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public. A Nashville judge ruled on Thursday, July 5, 2024, that The Covenant School children and parents hold a copyright to the documents given to them by the shooter’s parents. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

• Copy Link copied

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The writings of the person who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville last year cannot be released to the public, a judge ruled.

Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles found that The Covenant School children and parents hold the copyright to any writings or other works created by shooter Audrey Hale, a former student who was killed by police. As part of the effort to keep the records closed, Hale’s parents transferred ownership of Hale’s property to the victims’ families, who then argued in court that they should be allowed to determine who has access to them.

Myles recognized that claiming copyright as an exception to the Tennessee Public Records Act was a novel argument that previous courts have not ruled on. In the end, she agreed with the parents’ group, finding that “the original writings, journals, art, photos and videos created by Hale are subject to an exception to the TPRA created by the federal Copyright Act.”

The ruling, filed just before midnight Thursday, comes more than a year after several groups filed public records requests for documents seized by Metro Nashville Police during their investigation into the March 2023 shooting . Those killed were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61.

Part of the interest in the records stems from the fact that Hale, who police say was “assigned female at birth,” may have identified as a transgender man, and some pundits have floated the theory that the journals will reveal a planned hate crime against Christians.

The victims’ families released statements praising the ruling on Friday. Cindy Peak’s family wrote, “The last year and a half without Cindy has been difficult. But today brings a measure of relief in our family. Denying the shooter some of the notoriety she sought by releasing her vile and unfiltered thoughts on the world is a result everyone should be thankful for.”

The shooter left behind at least 20 journals, a suicide note and a memoir, according to court filings. When the records requests were denied, several parties sued, and the situation quickly ballooned into a messy mix of conspiracy theories, leaked documents , probate battles and accusations of ethical misconduct . Myles’ order will almost surely be appealed.

In addition to the copyright claims, the Covenant parents argued that releasing the documents would be traumatic for the families and could inspire copycat attacks.

Myles found that the copycat risk was real and “of grave concern.”

“Hale used the writings of other perpetrators in similar crimes to guide how this plan was constructed and accomplished, mimicking some not only in their methodology, but also choice of weapons and targets,” Myles wrote. “Hale even held past perpetrators out as heroes in their attacks, idolizing them.”

The Associated Press is among the groups that requested the records but did not participate in the lawsuit.

Deborah Fisher, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, warned that Myles’ ruling could have far-reaching implications, making it easier to hide evidence of a crime from the public.

“To say that evidence collected by police can be copyrighted by the criminal, or the surviving parent or spouse of the criminal, does not bode well for the transparency of the police or the judicial system,” she said.

Fisher thinks it will lead to a system in which selective evidence is leaked, as it has been in the Covenant case. First, pages from one journal were leaked to a conservative commentator who posted them to social media in November. More recently, The Tennessee Star published dozens of stories based on allegedly 80 pages of Hale’s writings provided by an unnamed source. The publication is among the plaintiffs, and Myles briefly threatened to hold the paper’s editor-in-chief, Michael Leahy, and owner, Star News Digital Media, in contempt.

Although Myles’ ruling will shield many of the documents created by Hale from public release, other documents in the police file can be released once the case is officially closed as long as they fall under Tennessee’s open records law. Doug Pierce, an attorney for the lead plaintiff in the case, said in an email that they are waiting to see what documents Metro Nashville provides once the investigation is complete.

“It is too early to evaluate whether there will be any appeal,” he wrote.

This story was corrected to show that The Associated Press did not participate in the lawsuit.

George Clooney says Biden not the man he was in 2020, should drop out

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• Actor, a leading fundraiser, says he views Biden as a friend
• But Clooney says Democrats cannot win in November with Biden

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US to start deploying long-range weapons in Germany in 2026

The United States will start deploying long-range fire capabilities in Germany in 2026 in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to NATO and European defense, the United States and Germany said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

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George Clooney calls for Joe Biden to step down, says he witnessed president’s decline in person 3 weeks ago

"It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F---ing deal' Biden of 2010," Clooney wrote.

Hollywood icon and longtime Democratic fund-raising leader George Clooney has joined a growing list of political and entertainment figures calling for President Joe Biden to bow out of the 2024 election race against Donald Trump .

Like many before him, the Oscar-winning actor and producer cited concerns over Biden's 81 years of age impacting his ability to lead the party to victory in November, but added that, before Biden's disastrous performance at the June 27 debate , he witnessed Biden's decline in person at a political event nearly three weeks ago.

"I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced," Clooney wrote in a New York Times essay published Wednesday, in which he acknowledged his friendship with Biden. "But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ' big F---ing deal ' Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."

Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images

He continued: "Was he tired? Yes. A cold? Maybe. But our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw. We’re all so terrified by the prospect of a second Trump term that we’ve opted to ignore every warning sign. The George Stephanopoulos interview only reinforced what we saw the week before. As Democrats, we collectively hold our breath or turn down the volume whenever we see the president, who we respect, walk off Air Force One or walk back to a mic to answer an unscripted question."

Clooney also alleged that he's spoken to numerous Democratic senators and members of congress in private in recent days, and that "every single one" shares the sentiment that "we are not going to win in November with this president." He also claimed that many of the politicians he spoke with have different forward-facing stances on the issue, and are "saying publicly" things that contradict how they really feel about Biden's acuity.

The 63-year-old goes on to suggest that several prominent Democrats could step up to lead the November ticket, noting that the nominating process at the 2024 Democratic National Convention could “enliven our party and wake up voters" among the base.

"We can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth," Clooney wrote, finishing the essay with a final note of praise for Biden before calling on him to bow out once again. "Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024."

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to the White House and the Biden campaign for a response. When reached for comment, Clooney's publicist tells EW there's "nothing to add" to the actor's New York Times essay.

Others who've attended recent events with Biden have praised the president on social media, including diplomat James Costos, who tweeted Wednesday that he was "proud to be with" Biden in person in Los Angeles.

Amid sustained calls from both Democrats and Republicans to drop out of the matchup against Trump, both Biden and White House representatives have maintained that he'll remain in the race. Biden confirmed in a July 5 X post that he's “not letting one 90-minute debate wipe out three and a half years of work. I'm staying in the race, and I will beat Donald Trump."

New York's governor, Kathy Hochul, also recently told MSNBC that Biden is the best candidate running, and that she felt emboldened to support him after meeting with him less than a day after the debate.

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“What I saw less than 24 hours after the performance the night before, was Joe Biden himself, at his best, energetic, fully alert, and conversational,” Hochul said. "One bad night does not affect three-and-a-half years of stellar accomplishment, and I’m really excited about the next four years ahead as well."

Other entertainment figures calling for Biden to let another Democratic candidate tap in for the party include several cohosts on The View — particularly Sara Haines and former Trump White House communications staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin .

"It kind of pains me to say this today, but I think President Biden needs to step down and be replaced if we want to defeat Donald Trump in November," Haines said, urging Democrats to stop "twisting the age issue" by making excuses for Biden's performance.

Also amongst Biden's critics are Stephen King, Rob Reiner, Michael Moore, and Michael Douglas — the last of whom said Wednesday on The View that he worries about Biden's fitness for office in the near future if he's elected to a second term.

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George Clooney Calls for Joe Biden to Step Down

George Clooney is the latest person to call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. The actor voiced his opinion in a New York Times op-ed entitled, “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.”

In his essay, the actor calls himself a “lifelong Democrat” who is “proud of what my party represents and what it stands for.” Clooney reiterates the work he’s done for the party — hosting record-breaking Hollywood fundraiser after record-breaking Hollywood fundraiser, including one in June — before dropping the hammer.

“The one battle [Biden] cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can,” Clooney wrote. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate .”

Clooney did not mince words about his belief that Biden cannot win a second term. “We are not going to win in November with this president,” he wrote. “On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate. This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor that I’ve spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.” I would love to know which governors George Clooney is speaking to in private, but I guess that’s not really the point.

Unmentioned in his op-ed was Clooney’s recent tiff with the Biden administration. His wife, Amal Clooney, was under threat of being sanctioned by the U.S. as an adviser to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into possible war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas. The White House eventually stepped back from the possibility of sanctioning the ICC, but Clooney still lodged a complaint. The actor reportedly called top Biden aide Steve Ricchetti to criticize Biden’s use of the word “outrageous” in describing his wife’s work. It seems as though the Biden team made it up to Clooney, though, as the actor co-hosted a fundraiser last month that raised $28 million for the president’s war chest. Per the Washington Post , the Biden campaign “disputed the notion that there were serious worries about Clooney dropping out of the fundraiser.”

Despite his personal feelings about Biden, Clooney made sure to reiterate his admiration for the president multiple times in his op-ed. He also threw out a few names of people he’d like to see on the Democratic ticket, including governors Wes Moore, Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, Gretchen Whitmer, and J.B. Pritzker. (He really is hanging out with governors in private, huh?)

Clooney ended his essay with a Sorkinesque plea: “Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024.”

• george clooney
• election 2024

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Guest Essay

Notes From a Formerly Unpromising Young Person

By Rachel Louise Snyder

Ms. Snyder is a contributing Opinion writer and the author of the memoir “Women We Buried, Women We Burned.”

In 2007 my email inbox dinged with a name I recognized but hadn’t seen in more than 20 years. I was living at the time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, working as a journalist. I recorded stories from across Southeast Asia for public radio and was about to publish my first book. The email’s sender said he’d wanted to reach out to me for a long time. He was retired and was driving a camper through the West and Southwest United States with his wife. And he’d never forgotten me.

His name was Jim Dollinger. Dean Jim Dollinger, if you want to be professional about it. For two years, he watched the implosion of my dismal high school career from his administrative perch as dean of students. In the email, he said he’d followed my work in the two decades since, reading some of my early writing in The Chicago Tribune, where I got my start, and every now and again he looked me up to see what I was up to.

And then he apologized. He apologized to me. He said he felt the school had failed me. “Schools just didn’t know what to do with kids like you in those days,” he wrote; they weren’t equipped to deal with my situation.

My situation was this: I was finishing my sophomore year of high school and had probably attended fewer days than I’d missed. I’d failed nearly all my classes, and my transcript boasted a 0.47. (I say “boasted” because you really do have to miss quite a lot of school to fail so spectacularly.) Then there were the fistfights. The weed. The acid.

All of this was the public face of my private hell. My mother died when I was 8, and my father remarried quickly, moved us across the country and enrolled us in a religious school, throwing my brother and me into physical and emotional chaos. My new family and those in our social circles used the scrim of evangelicalism to justify or ignore stunning levels of abuse and violence. My response to this was to fight back, to sneak out, to do whatever drugs I could corral, to fight, to flee. Once, I sat on the floor in front of my father slicing at my wrists with a fishing knife.

But it was the suspensions that did me in at school; more than seven in a single academic year doomed you. And I had well over seven. I might have had 17.

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Synonyms of cheerful

• as in bright
• as in cheery
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Thesaurus Definition of cheerful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lighthearted
• unconcerned
• happy - go - lucky
• devil - may - care

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unsatisfied
• disconsolate
• crestfallen
• disheartened
• inconsolable
• brokenhearted
• low - spirited
• downhearted
• heavyhearted
• heartwarming
• discouraging
• disheartening
• dispiriting

Thesaurus Entries Near cheerful

cheered (up)

Cite this Entry

“Cheerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheerful. Accessed 10 Jul. 2024.

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Daughter of writer Alice Munro reveals family secret of sexual abuse

In an essay published on Sunday, Andrea Robin Skinner writes that her stepfather sexually abused her, and that Munro stayed with him after learning about it.

Key takeaways

Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.

• The daughter said her stepfather abused her, but Munro stood by him even after learning of it.
• The daughter’s struggle led to estrangement with the family, then police involvement.
• Readers expressed horror at the news, which is likely to complicate Munro’s legacy.

Did our AI help? Share your thoughts.

When the Nobel Prize-winning Canadian author Alice Munro died in May at age 92 , her many admirers paid tribute to the subtle construction of her short stories, which often involved the gradual unveiling of a terrible revelation.

Andrea Robin Skinner, one of Munro’s daughters, published an essay in the Toronto Star on Sunday that brought to light a long-held secret in the author’s own family: Munro’s husband, geographer Gerald Fremlin, had sexually abused Skinner starting in 1976, when she was 9. Munro learned of the abuse when Skinner wrote to her about it 16 years later, and the author ultimately decided to stay with Fremlin afterward. Fremlin wrote letters to the Munro family, admitting to the abuse in graphic detail and blaming Skinner, describing her as a “homewrecker.” Skinner’s essay in the Star was accompanied by an article by two reporters at the paper.

Munro remained married to Fremlin until his death in 2013. “She was adamant that whatever had happened was between me and my stepfather,” Skinner wrote. “It had nothing to do with her.”

In the essay, Skinner described the initial sexual assault, which occurred during a 1976 visit to her mother and stepfather. During subsequent visits, Fremlin spoke lewdly to her, exposed himself and masturbated in front of her. Skinner struggled with bulimia, migraines and insomnia throughout her youth, and at age 25 she divulged the abuse to her mother.

When she next spoke to her mother, Skinner wrote, Munro focused on her own sense of injury and seemed “incredulous” that Skinner described being hurt by the abuse. Munro told Skinner about “other children Fremlin had ‘friendships’ with, emphasizing her own sense that she, personally, had been betrayed.”

Other members of the family knew about some aspect of the abuse. Soon after the initial assault, Skinner told her stepmother, who informed Skinner’s father, Jim Munro. Jim Munro did not inform his ex-wife, a choice that “relieved” Skinner at first, she wrote. Later, though, his “inability to take swift and decisive action to protect me also left me feeling that I no longer truly belonged in either home. I was alone.”

Skinner became estranged from the family in 2002, after telling Munro she would not allow Fremlin near her children. After reading a 2004 newspaper feature in which Munro spoke glowingly about her marriage, Skinner wrote, she decided she could no longer keep the abuse a family secret. She contacted Ontario police and shared Fremlin’s letters. He was charged for indecent assault, and pleaded guilty, in 2005. Skinner hoped that this would force the public to confront her experience, but “my mother’s fame meant the silence continued.”

The secrecy spread beyond the family: Canadian academic Robert Thacker told the Globe and Mail that Skinner had written to him about her experiences as his book “Alice Munro: Writing Her Lives” went to press in 2005. Thacker decided not to act on the information: “I knew about the discord within the family and no, I wasn’t going to do anything to make a bad situation worse.” He also said he had spoken with Munro about the abuse, but he did not elaborate on those conversations.

“Many influential people came to know something of my story yet continued to support, and add to, a narrative they knew was false,” Skinner wrote in her essay.

Skinner and her siblings reconnected in 2014, as they began to talk more openly about the dynamics that had prevented them from discussing the abuse with one another or understanding its severity. “We were so loyal to our mother that sometimes we were almost pitted against each other,” her sister told Toronto Star reporters.

Contacted by The Washington Post for comment, Skinner wrote, “I feel that the #metoo movement has changed the way we talk about and think about shame and silence. We are fed up with the way things have been.

“I feel very grateful for people like Dylan Farrow, who spoke out at a time when it was extremely dangerous to do so. The brave people who dared to tell the truth, back when the public were a lot less trauma-informed, cleared a path for people like me. I really want to open the path for many, many others.”

Readers expressed horror at the news, with some saying it would be difficult for them to return to reading Munro’s work. (As of press time, representatives for Penguin Random House Canada had not responded to a request for comment.)

“The Alice Munro news is so completely and tragically consistent with the world she evoked in her stories — all those young people betrayed and sabotaged by adults who were supposed to care for them,” novelist Jess Row wrote on the social media site X. “This is the most awful feeling of recognition.”

“This is gutting,” Tajja Isen, a contributing writer to the Walrus, a Canadian magazine, said on X. “I have so much respect for Andrea for writing this, especially amidst a flood of pieces — including mine, just last week — that missed this part of her mother’s legacy.”

“Someone will surely eventually write the piece that worries we are cancelling Munro but I feel this revelation only enriches and deepens my understanding and relationship with her work,” journalist Michelle Dean said on X. “I only wish it had been made sooner because Andrea Skinner did not deserve to pay this price.”

Munro’s Books, the bookstore co-founded by Alice and Jim Munro in 1963 and under new ownership since 2014, expressed support for Skinner in a statement: “Along with so many readers and writers, we will need time to absorb this news and the impact it may have on the legacy of Alice Munro, whose works and ties to the store we have previously celebrated.”

Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to Tajja Isen as a contributing editor to the Walrus. She is a contributing writer. This story has been updated.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I am a cheerful, fun-loving, proactive, and goal-oriented person. SELF-INTRODUCTION

jangppapunk 1 / -   Mar 9, 2015   #1 Your course of life, your view of life, study background, your hopes & wishes, etc o Your education and work experience, etc., in relation to the KGSP program o Your motivations for applying for this program o Reason for study in Korea I am a cheerful, fun-loving, proactive, and goal-oriented person. People know me by the nickname "Honey" and even though I am not as sweet as my name sound, I'm the kind of person people can easily talk with. I believe that life does not give you challenges that you cannot overcome. We much grab every opportunity to improve ourselves and in turn be of help to others. I was born the eldest child of a low-middle class family in a province near Metro Manila. My mother is public school teacher and my father is an employee at a biscuit factory. Sometimes, our needs would be way beyond our means. Back in elementary school, I recalled a time when I couldn't go to a school field trip because my parents cannot afford it. Our family's difficult financial situation did not stop me from being an excellent student. Rather, it was my inspiration to strive hard and make the most out of the education that my parents painstakingly provided for me. I was consistently in the top of our class, joining and winning competitions. I graduated elementary school as class valedictorian and was accepted into a specialized science high school, Philippine Science High School. It was then that I have become more independent and self-reliant. I had to live in the dormitory inside the campus because it was too far from our house. I managed my own finances from the stipends that our school gives to indigent students. My goal then to be accepted in a university, hopefully through a scholarship so that I can help my parents. With the dream of becoming a doctor, I entered the University of the Philippines - Intarmed Program. It was during this time that I became firm in my goal of becoming a doctor and to eventually specialize in the field of Orthopedics. During my internship year, I had a 2-month rotation in the Philippine General Hospital - Department of Orthopedics. I was able to assist in surgeries, go to outpatient clinics and attend section conferences. This experience reinforced my passion for the subject and also enlightened me on the need for more research especially in the growing fields of musculoskeletal tumors and biomaterials. I want to apply for the KGSP because I want to further my knowledge in the field of Orthopedic Surgery and to be able to experience a research-friendly environment which I did not have during medical school. Korea has always been known for various technological advancements and through my search, I have seen a lot of outstanding professors who are leaders in their own fields. I also want to be have a more extensive to the Korean health system which is much different from our country's health system. For one, the Philippines does not have a national health insurance system. Hence, most of the health expenditures are out-of-pocket and even the healthcare providers are not able to provide the ideal treatment at times. During one of my trips to Korea, I was able to look around Kyungpook National University Hospital and there I saw differences not just in the health system but also in the technology for medical informatics, the surgical instruments and the quality of care given to patients even in public hospitals. I can envision myself working in such a holistic environment wherein the quality of care is not limited by the financial difficulties of the hospital and the growth of medical doctors in terms of research and development is not limited by sheer volume of patients that they have to handle every single day. There's a term called Koreanophile, which the urban dictionary defines it as "a person that is obsessed with everything Korea." I believe that it would be the perfect term to describe me. I started knowing about Korean culture from watching Korean dramas since I was in 3nd year high school but it was only in 2010 that I decided to learn the language. I was in medical school then, and even if I wanted to attend Korean classes, my school and study schedule was too tight so I had to resort to self-study. I worked as an online English tutor to help my parents and through that I also earned money to have my first trip to Korea. After that trip, I fell more and more in love with Korea. I love the vibrant culture and the how those colorful traditions are passed down to generations. Despite globalization, the beauty of nature is preserved. The transportation system is so organized and efficient. Unfortunately, during that trip, my toe was caught under the bus door. Some policemen and passers-by gave me first aid treatment and helped me get to my next destination. Even if they struggled to talk to me in English, they gave me all the assistance they could even if I was just a stranger. Of course, one of the reasons why I love Korea is the food. I consider myself lucky that even before coming to Korea, I love spicy food. During my one-month stay in Daegu (my second time in Korea), I had no problems adjusting to the food and I even developed a craving for kimchi. I want to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be trained in a respectable institution in Korea. I believe that this training will be very beneficial to my future career as an Orthopedic Surgeon and hopefully through my Master's thesis (if given the chance) be able to contribute to the practice of Orthopedics geared towards the underserved patients of our country. Also, rather than seeing it as means to an end, I think the Korean language program is exactly what I need to achieve my dream of becoming a fluent Korean speaker.

Komank Sukarma 4 / 12   Mar 11, 2015   #3 Inspiring - self introduction! Good job friend.. @Kakak Candra, you are from Indonesia, aren't you? Nice to know you are here too..if you don't mind and pleasure, please give me the hand of any mistakes I made on my writing skills ok? Thanks so much.