he happiest, most successful people share six characteristics that anyone can develop. Here’s how...

While having a positive attitude won’t guarantee the results you want, it is more effective than thinking negatively.

I prefer the term "constructive thinking" to "positive thinking" -- because no one can have positive thoughts all the time. Constructive thinkers recognize their negative ideas but don’t get dragged down by them.

A positive attitude isn’t just optimism in the face of adversity. It also means being open to fun. Laughter has healing power -- use it!

Exercise 1: Start every meeting -- or every conversation with a loved one -- with the "Daily Four." Share a piece of good news... describe something for which you are thankful... give a compliment... and say something funny.

Exercise 2: Keep a journal, and write about the people and things for which you are grateful every day. You’ll soon find that you’re focusing on what’s right in your life instead of getting bogged down in what’s wrong.

No one becomes successful in isolation. Successful people actively build strong relationships. They do it by bringing out the best in others.

Consider Benjamin Franklin. Though often thought of as a natural diplomat, he wasn’t born that way. Franklin wrote that he had to work hard to overcome his tendency to fault others. As an experiment, he vowed to look for the good in others instead of judging or criticizing them -- and to say only kind things about people. The experience affected him profoundly, and he credited these efforts for much of his diplomatic skill.

Don’t just look for the good in people -- tell them about it. Make a point of affirming at least two people every day. And say thank you at every opportunity. Showing appreciation is one of the surest ways to nurture strong relationships.

Goals help us take charge of our lives. They give us a sense of what is possible. Each step taken toward achieving a goal builds confidence.

Successful people don’t just sit around waiting for someone to give them a break. They work for what they want.

Self-discipline isn’t the same as self-denial. It doesn’t mean being rigid and inflexible. It means committing to your plan of achievement and following through. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live."

Lifelong learning keeps your mind charged with new ideas. It can be a wonderful source of energy and excitement.

Too many people stifle the urge to learn a new language, take an art class, study psychology or philosophy, etc. -- because they’re afraid of failing. But accepting failure is crucial to learning -- and a successful life.

Albert Einstein once said, "I think and think for months and years. Ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time, I am right."

The difference between people who succeed and people who don’t isn’t in the number of times they fail. It lies in what they do after they fail.

The right way to handle failure...

Humans have a need to be moral. Living by time-honored values -- honesty, generosity, kindness, respect -- is good for our emotional and physical health.

Dishonesty -- even the "everyone’s doing it" kind -- sucks up energy. It can damage our relationships... and research suggests that dishonesty places stress on the body’s nervous system. Integrity, on the other hand, brings us peace of mind... increases our self-respect... and cements important relationships.

When we form the habit of choosing integrity -- action by small action -- we become the people we were meant to be.