“Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude” – Denis Waitley.
On Friday 20 March the world will observe International Day of Happiness. The UN recognises “the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.” The 7th World Happiness Report (2019) makes interesting reading. It focuses on happiness and community: “how happiness has been changing over the past dozen years, and how information technology, governance and social norms influence communities.”
The 7 Chapters focus on: 1. Happiness and Community: An Overview. 2. Changing World Happiness. 3. Happiness and Voting Behaviour. 4. Happiness and Prosocial Behaviour. 5. The Sad State of Happiness in the US and the Role of Digital Media. 6. Big Data and Well-being. 7. Addiction and Unhappiness in America.
In terms of country ranking, in the 2018 survey results, TT ranks 39 out of 156 countries. The top 10 are: Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and Austria. Sadly, Haiti ranks in the final 10.
Given that 2020 is an election year in TT, it is interesting to note Ch.2 and Ch3: “Governments set the institutional and policy framework in which individuals, businesses and governments themselves operate. The links between the government and happiness operate in both directions: what governments do affects happiness…, and in turn the happiness of citizens in most countries determines what kind of governments they support…The effects of government actions on happiness are often difficult to separate from the influences of other things happening at the same time…At the most basic level, good government establishes and maintains an institutional framework that enables people to live better lives. Similarly, good public services are those that improve lives while using fewer scarce resources.”
Note in Ch. 4 that “a growing body of experimental evidence suggests that using money to benefit others leads to happiness.” As Anne Frank said: “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Generosity can make us happy, and it does not necessarily involve giving money. Small acts of kindness to others can fill us with joy.
Inter alia, Ch 5 tells us that “adolescents who spend more time on electronic devices are less happy, and adolescents who spend more time on most other activities are happier…Digital media activities may also have a direct impact on well-being. This may occur via upward social comparison, in which people feel that their lives are inferior compared to the glamorous ‘highlight reels’ of others’ social media pages; these feelings are linked to depression… Cyberbullying, another direct effect of digital media, is also a significant risk factor for depression…individuals and organisations focused on improving happiness may turn their attention to how people spend their leisure time.”
Information in Ch 6 and Ch 7 apply to us also in TT. Various forms of addiction in TT e.g. gambling, pornography, and alcohol/substance abuse, cheat many citizens of happiness and well-being. The report states that longer-term measures should “include public policies to reduce stress levels in society, including greater job and healthcare security, reduced inequalities of income and wealth, healthier work-life balance, and greater integration of health and well-being programs in work, schools and communities.” If we are to promote happiness in TT, we must address the factors that lead to unhappiness e.g. growing inequality/inequity, crime/violence, corruption, and insecurity.
In 2015 Pope Francis’ shared 10 keys to happiness, based on “a general understanding of human nature, rather than any religious interpretation”.
They are:
1. Live and let live.
2. Give oneself to others.
3. Move quietly and peacefully.
4. Make time for playing with children, leisure, reading and enjoying art.
5. Share Sundays with family.
6. Help young people find employment.
7. Look after nature.
8. Rapidly forget the negative.
9. Respect those who think differently.
10. Actively seek peace.
In his 2019 book: Happiness in this life, he “explores the idea of happiness and shows how we can bring more meaning and purpose to our lives.” For those in our various faith communities, remember that our spiritual well-being is also inextricably linked to our happiness.
Here are some of the simple things that make me happy: strengthening my encounter with God daily, meeting family and friends, laughing, sharing what I have with others, serving selflessly, being in awe of nature. What makes you happy?
First Published in Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspapers
