Have you ever noticed some people just seem happier than others?
Even when you ask husband and wife Bob and Nancy Dieffenwierth you get different answers.
[WEB EXTRA: Extended interview ]
Bob considers himself "very happy." Nancy considers herself "average."
So why is it? We asked Dr. Amit Sood who wrote the book, The Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness.
Some people are biologically predisposed to be happier than others, according to Sood.
"Our brains are wired differently," he said.
A number of factors such as your Intrauterine environment as well as early role models come into play, Sood said.
"That is how some people are naturally inclined [to be happy] but others have to struggle," he said.
Whether you're naturally happy or not, Dr. Sood says like getting in shape, you can get happy.
40 to 50 percent of your happiness depends on the choices you make, Sood said
Sood developed a four step plan to getting happy.
He says 1) sharpen your attention and 2) develop a more mature perspective, which includes gratitude and compassion.
That advice is something Shirley Miglio takes to heart.
"Just being a very good person and I think naturally you can be happy," Miglio said.
Dr. Sood also says develop a mind body practice like meditation or yoga.
And lastly, develop healthy habits like exercise, according to Sood.
If you do that, you might end up like Bob Dieffenwierth who says on a scale one to ten, he is a ten in terms of happiness.
"Maybe nine to ten. I'm still working on trying to get a little happier," he said with a laugh.