Here's one recipe for happiness, from one of my favorite books, Roy Baumeister's Meanings of Life:
- form and maintain positive social relationships
- satisfy your basic need for meaning
- maintain goals and aspirations that are achievable
- do reasonably well in objective terms
- cultivate self-flattering, optimistic illusions
Of course, some of these are easier said than done. And there does seem to be at least one potential challenge hidden within these guidelines: how can one foster confidence, high self-esteem, and a can-do attitude, without being unreasonably optimistic? But as general rules I find these guidelines to be very useful.