What makes for a happy life? The ingredients aren't always obvious, researchers say. For our Happiness Revival Guide, I set out to sort fact from fiction. Here are a few surprising things I learned that we all tend to think are making us happy—but that might be doing the opposite:

• Dodging negative emotions. Every expert I talked to stressed that the top thing people get wrong about achieving happiness is that it requires suppressing unpleasant feelings like frustration or anger. In fact, acknowledging our negative emotions—and then reframing them—is key to coping well with life's challenges.
• Chasing success. Landing a fancy promotion or new job doesn’t make us happy for as long as we think it will. Instead, make it a habit to prioritize seeking out new challenges and opportunities.
• Living in a city. Urban living often translates to stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. If you’re a city-dweller, you can protect your mental health by spending time in nature and taking more walks.

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