"Happiness isn't just feeling good.It's good for you and for society.Happy people are more successful, have better relationships, are healthier and live longer,"said Ed Diener, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois.                                 Beyond your genes Sonja, a professor of psychology at University of California Riverside, analyzed studies on identical twins and concluded that happiness is 50 percent genetic, 40 percent intentional and 10 percent circumstantial. "Your circumstances-where you live, your health, your work, your marriage-can be tough to change .But most people are surprised that circumstances don't account for as much of their happiness as they think,"she said. Life circumstances don't result in continuous happiness, she says, because we adapt.That new car, promotion or house feels great at first.Then we get used to it. Keeping that good feeling requires something else: control of how you act and think.                               Happiness definition To gain happiness, you need to understand what happiness is. Martin Seligman, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, says happiness is the pursuit of engaging and meaningful activities.  By "engaging", he means when we get so absorbed in what we are doing that we lose track of time."Meaningful" would be using what you are best at to serve others or to participate in a cause that's bigger than yourself.  "Your purpose doesn't have to be giant," says psychologist Dan Baker. "If you'reyou're your purpose can be getting into the college of your choice.When you're a parent, it can be getting your kids off to school safely and prepared for each day.                            External factors  From 1981 to 2007, the World Values Survey took polls(lJ)all over the world and measured what it considers happiness and overall life satisfaction.Of the 52 countries that completed the surveys over the 17-year period, happiness increases in 45.  According to the survey analysis, economic growth helped promote happiness for some, while Democratization and rising social tolerance contributed even more.  Democracy provides more choice, which promotes happiness.Support for sex equality and tolerance of people who are different from oneself are also strongly linked.This is not just because tolerant people are happier, but because living in a tolerant society strengthens everyone's freedom. We can learn from the whole passage that
.happy people achieve their goal more easily. .life circumstances can't at all bring us happiness. .being absorbed in what you are doing isn't happiness. .the polls indicate that happiness only increases in few countries