Gateway to Happiness...

What is it about Happiness that people find it so hard to be happy? Why is it that for eternal happiness you have to join some ashram or courses and follow a regime? Nobody has been able to answer these questions and neither can I because it is not an external thing that can be incorporated rather it is something which need to be felt within yourself. And this exact practice seems tough for all to follow.

Okay let’s try and understand what exactly happiness is all about. It is purely a state of mind when you feel joyful, content, satisfied and high with positive spirits. So what are the hindrances in achieving these feelings? In today’s world, money pays a huge role in achieving happiness? Do you believe in that? I am guessing no here. Let’s dive in a little bit more here.

Reach out to a beggar and ask if he/she is happy? The only prompt revert you will get is a laid out palm for help. So if this beggar has no money, is he/she happy? Not at all rather the beggar is worried about food and place to sleep.

We all heard about famous quote “Health is wealth” which means everything is perfect if you are fit and fine. There are so many healthy options laid out for a fit breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now all you need to do is buy these items. To make a purchase you need money. Well here we go then, to follow “Health is wealth” you need wealth. However it is wrong to conclude direct proportion between happiness and money as long term happiness only comes with true friendship, beautiful marriage, stable job, meeting all expenses and living a healthy life.

In today’s world, money do play an important role in having an up and running home, spending quality time with family on holidays, giving out presents on festivals, owning a vehicle for family and fees for your kid’s education.

Have you all heard about term “Happynomics”------ well it is all about economics of happiness. Economists worldwide are deeply studying and researching on this very term as this leads to happiness of an individual, a community and even a nation. National happiness is most closely associated with health levels, prosperity, education and trust in public institutions. Democracy is a sure guide to happiness. The game of economic is purely managing your income against your expenses and yet having some savings left. Lower income does not lead to unhappiness however people enjoy simpler low cost things in their lives.

It is hard to be happy if your work is sucking up all your energy. This thing has been realized and so many companies have come up with options like “work life balance” at your workplace which means effective working in the required number of hours and spending quality time with friends and family. Options like giving a manageable health benefits to your employees and building day care facilities for employees who are newly turned moms and do not have help at home to manage toddlers. These things give more happiness and satisfaction than a big bonus check and company share options.

Psychologists Robert Biswas-Diener and Ed Diener found that happiness is region based as well. They found Latin Americans to be happiest people in the world, in spite of their thick poverty. Asian are least happy due to self developed negative responses. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is introducing a metric known as Gross National Happiness. Considerations will include how people use and balance their time, the health of the culture and community, and the quality of governance. (Sources: BBC and Time Magazine.)

So is wealth does not bring happiness, what does? There is a huge virgin area in your brain where positive thoughts origin day in and day out. We all tend to ignore this in our daily lives. Hence being optimist makes you happy. It all comes down to four basic keys to be followed for happiness ---- believe in more sensory experiences, enjoy your work and family time, live meaningful lives and last and not the least manage your expenses to your income with a minimum savings.

Happynomics first appeared in the grow Qatar blog.