Happiness is a habit.
Man, how controversial such a phrase can be at times. 
Happiness truly takes practice! Does it take more effort for some people than others? Yes, absolutely! Especially if there is a long pattern of approaching life otherwise or if trauma is involved.
About 15 years ago, I was hanging out with a group of women and had an odd experience I still remember today. A few of them were talking about traumatic histories and I said, “Oh, I’ve had that happen to me, too.”
These women turned towards me and one said, “No, you haven’t.”
I was taken aback. Confused, I said, “Yeah, I did. It was a long time ago, but it did happen.”
“No, you haven’t. I can tell you have never had anything traumatic happen to you because you smile too big. You’re too happy.”
???
I was being “accused” of being too happy. That had never happened to me before!
The other ladies agreed. How could anyone go through bad experiences and come out looking good?
In that moment I learned that we can either let our experiences define our outlook or we can define our outlook regardless of our experiences. But it takes consistent practice.
I had fortunately been given chances to practice early in my life. I watched my parents optimistically face uncertainty over and over again as we started life in a new country with a new language and new currency. I had a 2nd grade teacher who exuberantly sang to our class on a regular basis despite being really sick and eventually succumbing to cancer. I had a single mom at church who continued to put forth effort in creating meaningful activities for the youth even when I was the only one who showed up.
I had met people along my way who exemplified happiness despite adversity and so I learned that it was possible. When I saw that it was possible, I PRACTICED looking at my experiences in a different way to gain a chance to see it in an upward emotion. It wasn’t about pretending the adversity never happened but about reframing it so I perceived myself as someone who came out of it alive, like a hero in an unexpected plot twist!
Science teaches that a consistent practice in shaping our eyes and mouth into a full smile, modifications in sleep/exercise/nutrition lifestyle, and a practice in shifting what we focus on changes our emotional health, often without any other medical intervention. The difficult part –and truly it can be difficult at times– is that we must take a few steps of faith to believe this is possible before we can experience what is possible.
Happiness isn’t reserved for the lucky. It is a gift offered to all who put in the hope and the practice.