We recently offered tips on finding happiness in your work. as well as how to find the environment where you thrive. New reports also suggest that happiness is related to your intrinsic versus extrinsic motivations and your response mechanisms. Photo by Smudgie's Ghost. . Personal finance weblog Get Rich Slowly highlights a happiness study conducted by the University of Rochester that examines the effects of various "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" goals on increasing happiness. Specifically, the study asked participants how much they valued instrinsic factors such as having "deep, enduring relationships" and "helping others improve their lives" compared with extrinsic ones, like wealth and power. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study concluded that while we often assume that achieving goals increases happiness (however short-lived), that's not necessarily true where extrinsic motivations are concerned. In short, fame and fortune won't bring you happiness. (Where have we heard that before?)