THE HAPPINESS QUOTIENT

The king of Bhutan coined the term: Gross National Happiness. He believed that the wellbeing of a country does not depend on the figures of the Gross National Product, and that more education, youth or income, do not naturally translate into happiness. He wisely understood that the real measure of a country’s prosperity is the feeling of happiness and contentment among its people. Happiness is a gift, not a commodity. Even the poor have the ability to cultivate and share happiness. There is joy to be found in the small things we take for granted—a smile, a helping hand, a kiss, a wave, a pat on the back, a glass of water, a promise kept. Some of the poorest countries have the highest levels of happiness—Philippines and Nigeria are on top of the list. This has been verified and published in the World Happiness Survey conducted every year. Next few blogs will focus on this subject.