Developing a close-knit community of friends and making every effort to spend quality time with them whenever possible is an incredibly powerful contributing factor to health and longevity.

But why are some people so effortlessly popular and well liked, whereas others struggle to make friends?

Maybe because they follow these seven secrets of popularity:

1. Don’t Try to be Popular

When you seek to impress others, you hide your real self. This may temporarily impress some people, but in the long term it’s not sustainable.

2. Think of Others

People appreciate those who are considerate. If you only talk about yourself, people will try to avoid you. When you brighten someone else’s life, you increase the wattage of your own.

3. Be Yourself

When you seek to meet others’ expectations, there is insincerity in your thought and actions. It’s just really hard work trying to be someone you’re not, and sooner or later people will see right through it.

4. Have a Big Heart

The world needs more warm hearts and fewer hot heads, so be magnanimous in your dealings with other people, forget small mistakes, and appreciate the positive contributions that other people make.

5. Reduce Your Ego

If you do good things, there is no need to act as your own self publicist.

6. Have a Sense of Humor

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Humor is a lubricating oil; it prevents friction and wins goodwill.

7. Follow Your Ideals Quietly

Ideals are to be lived and not talked about. Lead by example; if others follow, fine, but if not, that’s fine as well.