Married with children?

Research tells us that most married people are significantly happier than their single counterparts. Children, however, have a slight negative impact on happiness. Why? Parenting is hard work and takes away free time that we might otherwise spend on other activities that make us happy, such as playing golf, gardening, travel or other relaxing and fun activities.

Young and beautiful?

Surprisingly, the senior years are the happiest times in our lives. Researchers speculate that the reasons are an improved ability to be content with what we have accomplished in life and the ability to not "sweat the small stuff" as much as our younger counterparts.

In the corner office?

Researcher Paul Stolz estimates that the average employee faces up to 23 adverse situations on the job each day. Success, or contentment with our jobs, he posits, is a function of how well we manage those adversities. Stolz estimates that only about 5 percent to 25 percent of us harness adversity in a positive fashion, either turning it into an opportunity or using it as a chance to be proactive and change the situation for the better.