What do you do to make other people happy?

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Just like the title says I was wondering what other people on here might do in order to cheer up or make someone else happy, or if you never feel like doing so? ((:

It depends on the person and what's making them not-happy...

What if they're already happy, but you just want to make them happier?

It still depends on the person and what kinds of things they like and what kinds of things they need, what brings them joy or makes them laugh....

Say I knew that a person really enjoyed a certain type of coffee-drink and I happened to be going to a coffee shop to get coffee for myself, if I wanted to make that other person happy I might buy them their favorite coffee-drink while I was at the coffee shop.

You don't have to spend money or give people material goods to do nice things for people, though....offering to help them with things, giving people compliments, and trying to understand people can make them happy, too. It's hard for me to think of specific examples, but here are a two:

Say somebody I know gets new glasses, and I both notice and like the appearance of said glasses. If I remember that people sometimes like to hear these things and then think of the words fast enough, I might tell them "I like your glasses" or "Your glasses look nice" and that might make them happy. (Sometimes compliments don't make people happy, though...sometimes people say things like, "Really? I hate these new glasses.")

Say my friend tells me that they are moving and that's it going to be a lot of work. If I'm able to help them with moving stuff from their old home to their new home, I will offer to help my friend move -- that might make them happy.

I tend to remember who likes what in terms of music, movies, humor, etc, and bring them anything relevant I stumble on.

I leave the room.

I'm a bringer-of-things too (though I remember someone around here have as tagline "the-bringer-of-unwanted-things" and hope that is about something else) It depends on if you do it with close friends or just in general, but if the latter you could be a "giver" in social interaction Apparently most people are givers solely in close relationships and some not even that. Here I'm bringing you a link that explains what a "giver" is
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/ ... -and-take/

I also tend to bring them things relating to something they are interested in. Also, in my relationship, I do little things all the time, like the dishes or vacuuming or conserving my energy so I'll be ready to chat at the end of the day, 'cause I know my partner likes that sometimes.

I saw an article in the WSJ saying that it wasn't the BIG things that made for a happy, lasting marriage, it was the small things that show you've been thinking of your partner. That was really encouraging,' cause big things seem to be beyond me much of the time, but I can think of a little thing to do every day that shows I value & appreciate my partner.

Like today, I got the mail. That's something she normally does, but I decided to do it & now I have to email her & let her know she doesn't need to make that stop.

How come?

I'm the clown. No matter how's lame or dumb the joke is I will do it to cheer the other person up. I have done this so well no sees me as smart or helpful or anything more then the fool.

I stopped trying to make people happy. Codependency is off-putting.

It's not always co-dependency to try and make other people happy.

I think what makes people happy is when they feel included and/or appreciated. Once they feel that, just being able to be themself is enough to make one happy. People generally want to be socially connected to SOMEONE.

I don't go out of my way to make anybody happy. Their happiness is their problem, not mine.

As for cheering someone up, I haven't yet been successful. I'm at a loss what to do or say. I usualy just sit there and give them some company for a while. Best I can do.

In general, the way I make people happy around here (at my house) is I do all the housework, cooking, laundry, scheduling, bill paying, lunch packing, being the alarm clock, chauffer, doctor or nurse as the case calls for, advisor, therapist, and the occasional drill seargant.

Snail mail is my primary was of making other people happy. I try to send cards on appropriate occasions or funny postcards (jackalopes, etc). That way people know I'm thinking of them but there's not the stress of talking on the phone or dealing with them in person.