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How to be Happy 3!
Achieving a happier life seems to be a common preoccupation at the moment. A series of programmes started recently on BBC2 on just this subject. I was fascinated to learn that in Bhutan, the government uses a measure called Gross National Happiness when making policy decisions about the country’s future, not purely economic measures such as Gross Domestic Product as used in the West. They are putting into practice what we already know from research and probably personal experience too – just having more money does not make us happier once we achieve a certain level. And that level in the UK is a salary of just £10,000 per year! It is comparison which makes us unhappy, and have you noticed how we always compare ourselves unfavourably to those we perceive as somehow better-off, never to those who have less than we do? What is very encouraging is that you do not necessarily have to make radical changes to your life to be happier – it may only mean a change in outlook. The programme related the story of a woman who packed shopping in a supermarket and who hated her job. Her greatest strength was assessed to be ‘social intelligence’ and she was given the new target of making at least 3 customers’ days with her conversation. She began to love her job! So perhaps happiness is just about state of mind, or maybe sleight of mind! It seems it’s only about choosing a better focus in which to put your life. Next time we’ll take a break from all this philosophising and look at some practical ways to feel happier, some of which have been sent by subscribers. Please keep them coming! Back to Resources page |
