To a large extent,happiness is a state of mind.Average people have overcome great difficulties (disabilities,poverty,oppression)to be creative and happy. This is not to say that burdensome and continuous problems cannot demean any spirit,but attitude and hope can make all the difference in the world.Assess your outlook by answering the following questions.
You will need a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.
This quiz is by Aitcheson DeGraw and was taken from a health magazine

1) Which of the following is/are a absolute prerequisites for happiness:
a)Health
b)Love
c)Wealth

2)Is happiness a destination or a journey:
a)Journey
b)A sometimes thing
c)Destination

3)At the end of each day what is important:
a)Your accomplishments
b)The balance
c)Your setbacks

4)Do you make up your mind to be happy everyday?Do you get up in the morning and say"This is going to be a great day":
a)Yes
b)Sometimes
c)Depends on yesterday

5)Have you learned to find pleasure in simple things:
a)Yes
b)I need more love
c)I need more money and pleasure

6)Do you think you have more than your share of sorrow and problems and not enough gladness:
a)No
b)Sometimes
c)Yes

7)Do you at times take yourself to seriously:
a)Yes
b)Don't know
c)No

8)Do you think that if you live right,you should be protected from misfortunes that befall others:
a)No
b)Sometimes
c)Yes

9)Do you try to pleasure everyone because:
a)It makes you feel good inside
b)You want to be liked
c)You feel obligated

10)Do you let critiscm bother you,know matter where it comes from:
a)Constructive
b)No
c)Yes

11)Do you let others or your neighbors set your standards:
a)No
b)Sometimes
c)Yes

12)Does your feeling of accomplishment depend on recognition or praise from others:
a)No
b)Sometimes
c)Yes

13)When do you feel you are able to be "just yourself":
a)Work and home
b)Home
c)Work

14)Most of the time do you do the things you enjoy doing:
a)Yes
b)Sometimes
c)Almost never

15)Are you happy in your work:
a)Yes
b)Sometimes
c)No

16)Does being in debt bother you and interfere with enjoying life:
a)No
b)Not sure
c)Yes

17)Are you the magnitude of your problems real or imagined:
a)Some real,Some imagined
b)Real
c)Imagined

18)Do you carry grudges or desires to even up scores for past hurts:
a)Never
b)Sometimes
c)You bet

19)Do you have friends who:
a)Are fun/make you happy
b)Gossip
c)Share your misery

20)Do you have many interests:
a)Yes
b)Few
c)No

21)Do you hold postmortems on things that did not go well:
a)When justified
b)No
c)Yes

22)Do you brood over past sorrows and mistakes.Do you daydream about it "If only"
a)No
b)Smetimes
c)Yes

23)Do you care about those that are less fortunate than you?Care enough actually to do something?
a)Yes/yes
b)Yes/no
c)No/no

24)Are you busy?Too busy to be bored or happy?
a)Yes
b)Maybe
c)No

25)What do you think would make you happy?
a)Romance
b)Excitement
c)Money

26)Do you think you are in control of your happiness?
a)Yes
b)Somewhat
c)No

Score 2 points for every A,1 point for every B,0 points for every C.In general,scores of 30-52 are good;all other attitudes need serious reevaluation.
The paths toward happiness are implied in the questions.For those that did well have a happy life,for those that didn't it will be difficult,but it's never to late to change.In any case,don't let this test add to your problems real or imagined.