What makes a person happy? Licking a scoop of creamy coffee ice cream and watching the sunset with my younger siblings always puts a smile on my face.

For centuries, the simple feeling of joy has been a source of curiosity among scientists and philosophers, as great thinkers pondered why certain people appeared to be happier than others. While a good scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day can be a quick happiness fix, there are more concrete methods of achieving happiness according to psychologists.

In his work Psychology of Happiness, Dr. Michael W. Fordyce, a positive psychologist, reveals the 14 ground rules for attaining happiness. These 14 rules are as follows.

1. Be more dynamic and keep yourself occupied.

3. Stop stressing over minor things in life.

4. Lower your anticipations and ambitions.

5. Work on a healthy personality.

6. Be yourself.

7. Remove negative spirits and problems.

8. Maintain close relationships.

9. Devote more time to socializing.

10. Cultivate positive, optimistic thinking.

11. Try to develop an outgoing character.

12. Develop your organizational skills.

14. Give to others.

Dr. Fordyce’s final rule, altruism, has been found to play an especially active role in fostering happiness.

The scientific consensus is that happiness is not derived from material items but stems from unselfishness. The idea that a simple act of kindness can make you feel good holds true according to psychologists. In a 2008 study, participants were given either $5 or $20 to spend on themselves or someone else. The researchers found that the participants who gave away the money experienced higher levels of happiness.

Although the specific physiological responses generated by altruism have yet to be scientifically studied, engaging in good deeds has been proven to reduce stress levels, according to bioethics professor Stephen G. Post. When we are stressed, the hormone cortisol is released and our heart rate and breathing rate increase. Consistent episodes of high stress negatively affect the immune and cardiovascular systems. However, doing good and feeling that “helper’s high” prevents feelings of stress and encourages feelings of happiness.

Martin Seligman, known as the Father of Positive Psychology, said that the key to happiness is to “use your signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than you are."