Take a Happiness Quiz

_____ When I see others prosper, it makes me feel bad about myself.

_____ I frequently compare myself to others.

_____ I think frequently about opportunities that I have missed.

_____ I regret many things from my past.

_____ When I think of the past, for some reason bad things stick out.

_____ When something bad happens. I ruminate on it for a long time.

_____ Most people will take advantage of you if you give them the slightest chance.

Positive Thinking

_____ I see much beauty around me.

_____ I see the good in most people.

_____ I believe in the good qualities of other people.

_____ I think of myself as a person with many strengths.

_____ When something bad happens, I often see a “silver lining,” something good in the event.

_____ I sometimes think about how fortunate I have been in life.

_____ When I think of the past, the happy times are most salient to me.

_____ I savor memories of pleasant past times.

_____ When I see others prosper, even strangers, I am happy for them.

_____ I notice the little good things others do.

_____ I know the world has problems, but it seems like a wonderful place anyway.

_____ I see many opportunities in the world.

_____ I am optimistic about the future.

Interpretation. Here are some guidelines for interpreting your answers:

Negative Thinking:

Low 1-4

Medium 5-9

High 10-14

Positive Thinking:

Low 1-4

Medium 5-9

High 9-13

If you find yourself agreeing with many of the negative thinking statements and disagreeing with many of the positive thinking statements, it is time to change. Remember, thinking is like any other habit – it can be changed with effort. And remember that if you are a negative thinker, this is not because this is the way the world truly is, but it is the way you choose to see that world. If you scored high on positive thinking and love on negative thinking, you are in the long run very likely to be a basically happy person. If your negative score is higher than your positive score, you have developed a negative way of thinking about yourself, the world, and others. You should evaluate whether this approach actually works for you, or whether you might function more effectively with more positivity.