In Bhutan, former king Wangchuck coined the term Gross National Happiness (GNH) to replace the more commonly used Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (you learn these things when you read the Sunday NY Times). They’ve posted it to the walls of national schools.
Certainly, high GDP can lead to wealth and well-being, which might support GNH.
Emphasis on might.
Recent research by the London School of Economics on the ties between personal wealth and perceived quality of life ranked the people of Bangladesh, one of the poorest nations in the world, as the planet’s happiest; the US was 46th on the list.
One could argue that ignorance is bliss.
One could also argue that, without the encumbrances of “things,” there’s not much to get in the way of happiness (ask your local monk).
I don’t know about you, but some of these “things” are important — at least to me. Things like clean water, good food, comfortable shelter, and the gear that helps me do my work. (OK, maybe I don’t really need the iPhone, but it has a high cool factor.)
I’m thinking one factor in our low ranking on the survey (along with most wealthy nations) might be this: we have a fundamental equation flipped.
Advertising, marketing and way too much of our media seems to push us to seek happiness through wealth.
Do we need a national movement to seek wealth through happiness?
Just a thought for your Monday morning. Have a happy day!
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