A thought shared by my Gen Z niece gave me scrumptious food for thought. Attributed to columnist and humorist Frank Tyger, the quote runs: “Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.” That begs the question of whether your mind is sometimes coerced into making a choice that is not right for you. On a sudden impulse, you may have chosen to do something just because you have the freedom to take the step. However, that action does not shower you with happiness; rather it brings regret!
In this 21st century world where everything seems to be a rat race, happiness appears to be more elusive than ever!
The happiest country on the planet
The World Happiness Report seeks to compare happiness levels around the world, drawing data from the Gallup poll. About 1000 respondents per nation are surveyed in more than 140 countries. They are asked questions ranging across a myriad of issues that are encountered in their day-to-day lives. Those interviewed are asked to evaluate their current life on a scale from 0 to 10.
The World Happiness Report takes the three-year average score of life evaluation per country to rank all nations from the highest to the lowest. Finland has been adjudged as the happiest country in the world according to the 2024 report, and the country has secured the top spot for seven years in a row.
What makes Finland the happiest country in the world? After speaking to Finnish people across all ages, the staff from the magazine ThisisFinland summarizes its findings:
“People in Finland are happy because their society has developed what they call an infrastructure of happiness. It includes healthcare, education, the economy, human rights, democratic governance, and a culture of volunteerism. High levels of trust and freedom also help explain Finnish happiness”.
What rains in happiness?
A multifaceted concept like happiness is rather complex as it is very subjective and perceived in different ways by different people. The common ground is its association with positive emotions and experiences that keep an individual in a blissful state. Contentment and fulfillment are the feelings that one senses in the paradigm of happiness.
It is entirely personal, and we do not have the right to judge others for the reasons for which they are happy. For someone, happiness may depend on material success or career growth. For another, happiness may revolve around the circle of love and affection that strengthens personal relationships. Even the simple act of sharing a cup of tea with a loved one in the comfort of your home can bring joy overflowing to the brim.
We cannot quantify whose happiness is greater or whose is less because each person has a sense of achievement enjoying the moments that they can claim as their own.
Lessons from a humble soul.
Sometimes, life lessons come from the most unexpected sources. Not too long ago, a team of men were working on a construction project in my home. One among them stood out. He seemed to be the most efficient in the group, and layered with his building skills was his pleasant disposition that defined his personality. We had not spoken much with him. He was from Honduras, and he communicated with us with the limited English he could speak.
Arriving in the morning, he would work laboriously throughout the day with a hundred percent sincerity, paying attention to every minute detail. That time of the year was rather chilly, and he loved eating his lunch outside in the backyard. He would bask in the afternoon sun with melodious songs playing from his phone. There were two constants: the smile that he always wore on his face and the music that played constantly and kept him going. I know nothing else about this man who I saw for just a few months, but he left an indelible impression. With that positivity, he really knew how to build that tower of happiness in his march for survival.
Can we invite happiness to our lives?
Yes, we certainly can! Happiness is a state of mind that we can create for ourselves. That entails counting our blessings rather than complaining about what we don’t have. A deep sense of gratitude is what we need to foster. Let us appreciate every little thing that has given us joy because there can be no greater happiness than being at peace with ourselves for the good things that life has bestowed upon us. As they say, “Be happy, not because everything is good, but because you see the good in everything.”
rashmi writes 