Are you happy? Let’s talk.
If you want to be happy, be.
- Leo Tolstoy
If we talk about happiness definition:
The Happiness Index is defined as follows:
The Happiness Index is defined as the weighted (by sampling weights) rate of respondents reporting “Very happy” or “Quite happy” less the weighted rate of respondents reporting “Not very happy” or “Not at all happy,” plus 100. The index thus ranges from 0 to 200.
The definition of the Happiness index originated from Bhutan. In 1972, Bhutan started prioritizing happiness over other factors such as wealth and economic growth. Their definition of happiness depends on different factors. However, its implementation for the rest of the world came into effect in 2012. The Happiness Index was first created by the Global Happiness Council in 2012 ( seems a long time, right!)
Bhutan was the first country which start calculating happiness. Their happiness index depends on psychological well-being, health, education, time use, cultural diversity, and resilience. It is completely different from the definition from the Global Happiness Council’s definition( that’s why it doesn’t make it into the happiness index list 🙂)
Finland is the happiest country in the world. Finns are happier than others because of lower income inequality (most importantly, the difference between the highest paid and the lowest paid), freedom to make decisions, high social support, and low levels of corruption. The healthcare and education sector is completely owned by the government and hence it is affordable to everyone and meets the basic needs of the people.
India’s position in this index is not really satisfying. There is income inequality, unemployment, poor mental health, women’s safety issues, environmental pollution, and so on. The healthcare and education sectors are mostly owned by private companies and they are really expensive so a middle-class person cannot afford those facilities. All these factors give birth to unhappiness. India can take inspiration from other countries (especially Bhutan). This is not just about money but also about the well-being and growth of citizens. And, as a citizen, we all should try to give our best to make our country grow, safe, and be kind to each other. We all hope that one day Indians will achieve this milestone and will make it into the happiness nations’ list.
We should remember what Dalai Lama said, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”
Thanks for reading my article till the end. Looking forward to your feedback.🙂
