In Pursuit of happiness

India ranks 118^th  out of 156 countries in the global list of happiest nations in the latest UN Happiness Index that was announced recently ( Read the news here ) . After reading this report it had me thinking if the population of India are really unhappy ?? Happiness of a person depends on various factors not just the  indicators of happiness taken into consideration by the study which were  GDP per capita,life expentancy ,social support and freedom  .

 “ Happiness depends on ourselves “ – Aristotle   

Each one of us has different views of being happy and the crux of being happy is based on the actions taken by us as quoted by Aristotle  and these actions can vary each person . 

 “Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.”--Thomas Jefferson

Happiness is just not due to possession of money nor material wealth as most persons construe but being content in what we have and living life each day as it unfolds with emotions of joy, affection, peace, pains, sorrow etc.

People for centuries have argued that Money can buy happiness and it is quite obvious that people who have more money can afford to buy what ever they please, pay the bills and take care of the wants of their loved ones and we think that this is the path to happiness. But having money is not the only path to happiness.We do see or know of people who do not have money or material wealth to be much happier than those who have it.


How is this possible ??? This would mean that if your worry less than you are a lot happier .  A song by Bobby Ferrin Don’t worry be happy come to my mind ... I did write about it quite some time back in 2014 and link to that post is Here  . So we can conclude that being happy is a choice that one must make. You could be happy if you want to be happy.

My advice to my friends is not to worry too much of the future but to live your present to the full avoiding negative emotions and be content with what you have or can get and then i am sure they would happier persons. I know it is not so easy to follow but then worrying does not resolve any issues and it makes ones life more miserable.