Quality-of-life in nations is measured using an index of ‘Happy Life Years’, developed at Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands. This index combines average appreciation of life with average length of life. Costa Rica is on top with 66,7 and Zimbabwe at the bottom with only 12,5 happy life years. The USA rank in the sub-top with an average of 58 years lived happily.
Rank lists are published periodically on the World Database of Happiness. The latest rank list counts 148 nations and covers more than 95% of the world’s population. These findings are presented at the 3rd OECD World Forum, 27-30 October in Busan, South Korea. The focus of this conference is on measures of social progress other than GDP. This measure of Happy Life Years is such an alternative measure.
A conversation with the author of “The Pursuit of Perfect” and “Happier” Tal Ben-Shahar is an author and lecturer at Harvard University. Source:The Big Think
Robert Cloninger, Professor of Psychiatry at the Washington University in St. Louis, has illustrated data on the relationship between inherited personality traits and happiness and how these traits can undergo modification throughout the years.
Psychiatry has failed to improve the average levels of happiness and well-being in the general population, despite vast expenditures on psychotropic drugs and psychotherapy manuals. The practical failure of psychiatry to improve well-being is the result of an excessive focus on stigmatizing aspects of mental disorders and the neglect of methods to enhance positive emotions, character development, life satisfaction, and spirituality. Prof. Cloninger described a simple and practical approach to well-being by integrating biological, psychological, social, and spiritual methods for enhancing mental health. [continue reading…]
A public experiment designed to lift the nation’s spirits has reported its hopeful conclusions – that smiling, counting your blessings and reliving happy memories will make you happier. The Science of Happiness study said thinking of a positive thing that happened the day before was by far the most effective way for people to cheer themselves up. continue reading 😉
Source: The Guardian, The Science of Happiness study
