The big question is: “How do you create a happy home?” I think a lot of people wished they had come from one.

Working with young people and families with both older and younger children, I’ve noticed that a happy home can come from any race, occupation, economic status, political persuasion and any other variation you wish to throw into the mix.

When you have a strong culture in a home, that culture will pervade the individuals in that home.

If you have a culture of generosity as a family, each member of the family will tend towards generosity because this is what is lived, demonstrated and promoted in your household.

So what are the two common cultural traits of a happy home?

1) Culture of Gratitude or Appreciation

Psychologist Martin Seligman, known as the founder of positive psychology suggests that people are able to increase their happiness levels by doing a “gratitude visit”.

Anthony Robbins says:

Living in this emotional state will enhance your life more than almost anything I know of. Cultivating this is cultivating life. Live with an attitude of gratitude.

Why not try a little experiment of your own? Next time you see a person who you believe is a “happy person”, not just someone having a good day, listen to their language and see if you can hear appreciation for both big and small things.

2) Culture of Helpfulness/Kindness

In a study conducted by psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, one of the twelve things that happy people do differently is practice acts of kindness. Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is like a naturally produced drug in your body that has massive health benefits, including making us feel more blissful or happy.

Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside.

We have friends who have a fantastic family consisting of mum, dad and five kids. Neither the mum nor dad has a fantastic career, nor do they have a lot of money or other things our western society says we need to be happy. However, you will not find a happier family or more well-balanced children — children that any parent would be proud of.

This whole family, including the children, are the most helpful, generous and respected people I know. If there is an event, fundraiser for a charity, or people needing help for any reason, they are the first to volunteer to help.

Their eldest daughter is a mentor to both of my teenage daughters. That positivity, true happiness and helpfulness rubs off onto my children in a good way.

There are certainly other cultural traits of a happy home; however, these are certainly two that stand out in every situation, and come up in every scientific study.

Are there adjustments you can make in your family that could make your home happier?

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Originally published at Mum Daily. Photo by Elina Fairytale.