We've all met those who seem to radiate happiness. They seem to

The words of Joseph B. Wirthlin, “We’ve all met those who seem to radiate happiness. They seem to smile more than others; they laugh more than others – just being around them makes us happier as well,” touch upon one of the oldest and most mysterious truths of human life: that joy, like light, is contagious. There are some souls who carry within them a fire so bright that it warms all who draw near. Their smiles are not forced, their laughter is not hollow; it is as though the very essence of gladness flows from them, blessing friend and stranger alike.

This radiant happiness does not depend on wealth, beauty, or station. Often, those who shine most brightly have endured suffering and loss, and yet have chosen to turn their wounds into lanterns for others. Their laughter is not the shallow sound of escape, but the triumphant echo of resilience. The ancients spoke of such people as “bearers of the divine spark,” souls who remind the weary that life, despite its burdens, is still worth embracing.

History gives us luminous examples. Consider the life of Helen Keller. Stricken in her earliest years with blindness and deafness, her world could have been confined to silence and shadow. Yet through courage, discipline, and faith, she became not only an author and speaker but a radiant presence, inspiring millions. Those who met her described a spirit overflowing with joy and gratitude, so much so that it left them changed forever. Like the figures Wirthlin describes, she smiled more than others, she laughed more than others, and she reminded the world that happiness is a power stronger than despair.

There is a hidden strength in such people. Their smile is a form of courage, their laughter a weapon against despair. Just as a candle can chase away the vastness of darkness, the joy of a single soul can uplift entire communities. In war, in famine, in exile, the ones who radiate happiness often become the unseen leaders, the pillars that keep others from collapsing under the weight of sorrow. To meet them is to feel lighter, to feel hope rekindled, to believe that life, even in hardship, can be endured with grace.

The teaching is clear: happiness is not only a personal possession, but a gift we can share. When we smile, when we laugh, when we choose to live with gratitude and hope, we do not only heal ourselves—we heal those around us. The radiant soul is not selfish; they are a vessel through which light flows outward, reminding others that they too can find joy. Such people are living testaments to the truth that the human spirit was not made for despair, but for celebration.

To practice this wisdom, one must cultivate joy not as a fleeting emotion, but as a discipline. Begin by seeking gratitude each day: notice the small beauties, honor the quiet mercies, and allow your smile to flow naturally from them. Share laughter freely, not as mockery but as balm. When you enter a room, ask not what you can take from it, but what warmth you can bring into it. In this way, you too may become one of those souls who radiate happiness, whose presence transforms sorrow into strength.

So remember, O seekers of tomorrow: joy is not a treasure to be hoarded, but a flame to be shared. Strive to be among those whose smile lingers in the hearts of others, whose laughter lifts the weary, whose presence brightens the path of all who walk beside them. For to radiate happiness is not only to live well—it is to light the way for others through the long night of this world.