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Gross National Happiness

 

Here is a quote from wikipedia  the economics of happiness.  It is an emerging paradigm:

The economics of happiness or happiness economics is the quantitative and theoretical study of happiness, positive and negative affect, well-being, quality of life, life satisfaction and related concepts, typically combining economics with other fields such as psychology and sociology. It typically treats such happiness-related measures, rather than wealth, income or profit, as something to be maximized. The field has grown substantially since the late 20th century, for example by the development of methods, surveys and indices to measure happiness and related concepts.[1]

 

WellBeing is Gross National Happiness

“Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous.
That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor”.

Paul Hawken

Wellbeing is a term we hear more and more these days. Wellbeing crosses physical, mental and spiritual areas. Wellbeing is the outcome of balance. In ecology it is homeostasis.

Diet (nutrition) and exercise are critical to wellbeing as a healthy body produces a healthy mind. Indeed, a healthy mind produces a healthy body.

Natural wellbeing is positive thoughts generated by a natural life that feels the unity of mind, body and spirit. A feeling that gives you REAL HOPES for the future.

You naturally move into wellbeing when you are feeling happy or at peace with yourself.

Happiness is that sense of knowing that all is right in the world. This affects the wellbeing of others.  That is to say, you love what is, you may seek for a better future but you live in the moment and what is happening is happening.  Living in reality is the key to happiness.  Not a reality that you imagine, or someone tells you but precisely what is happening without a story of what it should or could be.  It is accepting life as it is.  This welcomes whatever happens as life unfolds.  If it is not pleasant naturally we will choose a better scenario by our thoughts and words.  To move into the next moment is to envisage the moment you choose.  This is self empowerment.  You get to choose rather than be the victim of life where you believe your happiness depends on others, it does not.

Here is a perspective from wikipedia on wellbeing as follows:

“Well-being or welfare is a general term for the condition of an individual or group, for example their social, economic, psychological, spiritual or medical state; high well-being means that, in some sense, the individual or group’s experience is positive, while low well-being is associated with the negative.

In economics, the term is used for one or more quantitative measures intended to assess the quality of life of a group, for example, in the capabilities approach and the economics of happiness. Like the related cognate terms ‘wealth‘ and ‘welfare’, economics sources may contrast the state with its opposite.[1] The study of well-being is divided in Subjective well-being and Objective well-being. In alternative spirituality, the term is used to describe a state of serenity and inner happiness or hauora. While there are several departments of “Well-being” in academic institutes, the term generally has a more holistic and broad context.”

In society it is important that wellbeing and enshrined in policies at all levels. It is important to encourage wellbeing in our lives, in our homes, workplaces, organisations and government institutions. When people are balanced, we find more energy and this unlocks both creativity and productivity with ease. It is about working emotionally intelligently, not necessarily harder.

In the workplace there is more discussion and action about work/life balance.

In the community more are discovering holistic techniques for healing imbalance, the active types love to focus on physical wellbeing in the fitness industry. That is why we are a sport crazy nation. We love to exercise as it feels good and we feel empowered.  Both modalities improve mental health, wellbeing and gross national happiness.

In respect of mental health, clowns go into hospitals to meet the patients and shift their sadness. Life in hospital can be boring, noisy and depressing.  We believe in what Patch Adams says:  “laughter as the best medicine”. So we make jokes, play with people and bring some colour into their lives even if for a brief moment. Laughter naturally releases endorphins are the body’s natural highs and when people laugh they lift their immune system.  This can change a life if a person sees the clowns as a positive omen or perhaps a smile makes a person feel included.  This is how you make a difference.  I recall a doctor at the CMC Hospital in Vellore, India.  He thought the clowns were a waste of time, but others were so thrilled to have them come through. He saw medicine as making the difference, but I know of children who never forgot the clown and when a clown strategically positioned a bear on the bed prior to theatre, the child new she would survive. The power of the mind cannot be underestimated.

Human happiness is what we all live for.  We sometimes forget that the simple act of kindness can be the most important moment in a person’s life.  An old lady told me “you made my whole day dear”.  I smiled.

On the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program I was told by a Catholic Priest in Rayong in Southern Thailand that when he helped women with HIV Aids he used humour, he found some went into remission. So laughter and happiness is one element to wellbeing and healing but very important.

Gross National Happiness as Wellbeing in our society is not only important it must become a national priority.

Further links:

https://wpas.worldpeacefull.com/2011/02/happy-planet-index/