On March 20, the UN will mark the international day of happiness. The day is meant to recognize the importance of pleasure for people's lives on earth. As the founder of a company where spreading happiness is central to the business, I think it's important to talk about happiness and what makes us happy. And is it true that you are your own lucky charm?
Written by Kristin Lorange, CEO of KOK Norway.
The day is initiated by the small country Bhutan which since the 1970s has been measuring gross national happiness rather than GDP and has introduced the concept of gross national happiness to measure the state of the country. You can say a lot about Bhutan's government and politics, but their initiative to introduce a happiness barometer is an interesting and different approach to measuring a country's success. So what is the state of happiness in Norway these days?
According to the happiness research the UN conducts through happiness index Norway ranks fifth among the world's happiest countries. Over the past year, many people in Norway have probably experienced that their happiness has not been at its best, although when most other countries are at least as hard hit by the corona pandemic and its consequences, Norway's ranking will probably not be further affected.
A study A survey conducted by the NIPH in November and December 2020 shows that more Norwegians are struggling with loneliness and mental health problems, and that one in four are not satisfied with their lives. This particularly affects young people. The reasons for this are of course complex, but perhaps it suggests that coping with adversity and crisis without turning too blue is something you can learn? And furthermore, what is happiness? One of the eternal questions. How do we achieve happiness? How important is it? Do we really have to be so incredibly happy, or is it enough to be fairly content? How much can I actually influence my own experience of happiness in life?
Many people forget the small happiness while they wait in vain for the big one.
To understand the concept of happiness, science can help point us in the right direction. Happiness was a central theme in ancient Roman and Greek philosophy, but there was also a lot of opinion and, by today's standards, questionable scientific methods. Among other things, Aristotle believed that children could not experience happiness. It is uncertain whether he actually asked them himself. Of course, modern science is not exact either, but after more than 50 years of systematic happiness research, there is relatively broad agreement that there are three sources of happiness: genes, external circumstances and values.
Genes - Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered, through a study of identical twins separated at birth for various reasons, that we inherit a surprisingly large part of our sense of happiness through our genes - specifically 48 % . It can be tempting to curl up on the sofa and put on another episode of Netflix. But then again, several studies show that not getting hung up on what we can't change anyway is essential to achieving happiness; so let's move on.
External circumstances - Nor is it something we can change to any great extent, at least not as children, but fortunately, over time we become better able to influence our own reality. This may also affect the NIPH study mentioned above.
Verdier - This is where our own consciousness and the choices we make can have the greatest impact. Actively considering who you are and what is of value to you provides a better foundation for a good life. In his bestseller "The subtle art of not giving a f*ck - A counterintuitive approach to living a good life", Mark Manson advises us to get to know our own limitations and then accept them. Once we embrace our fears, mistakes and insecurities, we can become brave, curious and a little more satisfied with life.
Over the past week, I've read and watched interviews with three quite remarkable people who all have an ability to take hold of their own experience of happiness and be their own blacksmith. What they have in common is that they've all grown up in pretty tough circumstances, but have still managed to have good lives. They all possess what is known as resilience, which is the ability to cope with stress, crises and mental strain.
They seem to have focused on familiar themes such as gratitude and not overthinking dark thoughts. Their inspiring stories are so powerful that I really just want to pass the word on.
Hear what they have to say here:
Did you know that taking a sauna releases the "happiness hormone" serotonin and reduces the release of cortisol, the stress hormone? In the sauna, it's easy to be your own lucky charm.
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