How can we create a happier world?
That question is on many people’s minds today, as we celebrate the sixth annual International Day of Happiness. This event grew out of a United Nations resolutionaffirming happiness as a fundamental human goal—and suggesting that we should approach economic growth in a way that promotes well-being for everyone.
Social systems and institutions have a role to play in our happiness, and that’s evident in this year’s World Happiness Report. Researchers ranked countries by their average happiness levels and found, for example, that GDP, life expectancy, freedom, and corruption make a difference. In the ranking, Finland, Norway, and Denmark came out on top. The United States dropped four spots to number 18.
That’s the big picture. But happiness is also a very individual pursuit—and there are attitudes and habits we can cultivate in daily life that will enhance our personal well-being.
[For more on this story by KIRA M. NEWMAN, go to https://greatergood.berkeley.e..._happiness_practices]
For stories on a similar topic, see Why Americans Score Lower on Happiness Every Year—And What to Do About It and The Unhappy States of America.
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