Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
driven
4/10/2012 9:21:32 PM
Those are valid observations. I think Bhutan puts far less emphasis on the external things we value so much. For instance, the government puts inner spiritual development on a par with material improvement.
In addition, the BBC also notes that Bhutan was the last nation in the world to introduce television in 1999. Recently it banned a number of channels including international wrestling and MTV, which they felt did little to promote happiness. It also plastic bags and tobacco on the grounds that they make the country less happy.
But keep in mind one thing: "Bhutan has been able to adopt radical policies partly because it is a remote kingdom and partly because it is an absolute monarchy."
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Broadway
4/10/2012 8:40:32 PM
If we're being serious here about Bhutan, I think a simple serious explanation for their contentment is expectation. Western culture is fraught with unrealistic expectations -- French people want to live on vacation all the time, Americans all want to become billionaires and/or Idols, English people want their soccer teams to win each weekend, etc. etc. When those expectations meet reality we're all destined for a life of misery.
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Drivewaygirl
4/10/2012 7:14:07 PM
Contentment seems right. Look at these faces!
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Noreen Seebacher
4/10/2012 3:58:23 PM
The UN resolution about the happiness index was created by the prime minister of Bhutan. Forest-laden Bhutan, sandwiched between China and India, has a population of 725,000. More than a quarter of Bhutan's population lives on less than $1.25 a day, and 70 percent of the population is without electricity.
Yet look at this image of a Bhutanese farmer. And it's not unique. Google Bhutan and you'll find dozens of images of people who seem very happy. So what is it? Certainly not money. Maybe a sense of contentment?
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Sherri Cruz
4/10/2012 3:40:11 PM
There are so many other worthy feelings and emotions, and as you mentioned, life is full of tragedies. That in-the-moment thing works for me. Yes, dogs -- and cats -- have it about right.
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Street Smart
4/10/2012 3:23:26 PM
@Sherri, I know what you mean about happiness being overrated. Sometimes the only thing that happens when one is questing for it is that they become more miserable! I think it might be what @Noreen identified--the gap between expectations and reality.
I've concluded that the only way to eliminate that gap is to live in the moment as much as possible. In fact, isn't that one of the goals of Buddhism?
I have lost three parents (mother, father and step-father) to sudden, gone-in-the-blink-of-an-eye accidents and health crises, and those losses have changed how I think about life. These days, I try to emulate my dog--happy and peaceful whatever the circumstances. She has love, she has food, she has walks and she has tummy rubs...oh yes, and NO worries about tomorrow.
If today were our last day on earth, would we really spend it Fed watching?
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Sherri Cruz
4/10/2012 3:08:10 PM
@StreetSmart In my humble opinion, happiness itself is overrated.
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Noreen Seebacher
4/10/2012 1:51:16 PM
It's especially hard to quantify given those cultural variations. If someone in a modest home who works very hard physically to maintain his or her family is "happy" in one country, would that same person be happy under similar conditions in another? Or do we measure our "happiness" against the perceived happiness of our friends and families? In other words, are we unhappy when other people who seem to work only as much or less than we do have more?
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Value Hiker
4/10/2012 1:29:03 PM
@StreetSmart, you are right the pilgrams were not happy about the status quo. That was the reason these people left the Old World and came to this land. The pursuit of happiness is their source of happiness. As Steve Jobs once said: the journey is the reward.
Re: Happiness is NOT America's Middle Name
Phoenix
4/10/2012 12:45:20 PM
@street smart
It was really interesting to read about the facts you have given about happiness. I was surprised to read about the gratefulness diary, this is something that sounds very simple but seems to have profound results. I agree with the notion that money does not buy happiness.
I have been part of research studies aimed at measuring satisfaction but I wonder how happiness can be measured?
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