DailyThought #39 - Happiness

The World Happiness Report is a study done annually that tracks the overall happiness of each country’s inhabitance. This study compares and contrasts economic advantages, social support, life expectancy, freedom, survival threats, generosity, corruption, etc.

What is most interesting to me, is the ranking of my home country: the USA. Even though the US is one of the most developed countries in the world, its ranking - compared to other developed countries - is low, at 24th. When looking at the countries ranking below the US, these countries are often faced with war, survival threats, freedom restrictions, abusive governments, corruption, etc. For example, Afghanistan is ranked the least happy country in the world. Looking at the types of problems impacting happiness rankings, freedom restrictions and survival threats rank as the most impactful issues regarding happiness in Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the US faces little freedom restrictions and even less survival threats, but the problems that make the US most unhappy is social and emotional problems.

This was super interesting to me. Even though we should be happy, we aren’t. Why?

My Starter Won’t Start This Morning by Lightnin’ Hopkins