volving from its 14th century roots of “by luck and fortune,” happiness today is something to be actively aspired for—a quest dominating popular culture. From the number of people studying Yale’s most popular ever “happiness” lecture through to unachievable social media aspirations, the world seems to be on a collective journey to capture happiness and take it home. It is an elusive quest, and like the mythical will–o–the–wisp that lures travelers from the path to their demise, focusing on this pursuit of happiness could overshadow the essence of true contentment.
In North America, as another potential “worst wildfire season on record” is rapidly approaching, this International Happiness Day invites us to consider the nuanced nature of happiness and contemplate the extent to which the United Nations’ metrics illuminate or obscure its true meaning.
The first metric used in the World Happiness Report has traditionally been GDP. While this acknowledges the grim reality of poverty, we also know that, beyond a certain threshold, wealth does not equate to happiness. For example, the Scandinavian concepts of Hygge and Lykke offer a nuanced understanding, thinking about the everyday pursuit of joy in life as well as the present moment fleeting pleasures from the simple cozy things in life. This offers us a way of thinking about the time horizons happiness beyond GDP can take.
Comparing our lives to manicured glimpses on social media or numerical benchmarks offers little real insight. Attempting to measure anything requires a benchmark. Perhaps a form of monitoring with a conscious awareness of the intricacies of human experience might lead us to a different understanding.
At the heart of happiness lies connectedness—forging meaningful relationships with all our senses and in being in the same space as each other. It’s often in the crucible of crises and challenging experiences that profound relationships are formed, binding us in the pursuit of collaborative solutions resulting in flourishing communities.
As we observe International Happiness Day, let's shift our focus from only looking at the quantifiable measures to thinking and feeling deeply about the qualitative experiences that bind us. Let’s champion the warmth of companionship, the strength derived from community, and the enduring satisfaction of shared purpose. These are the unquantifiable, unmeasurable aspects of life that breed genuine joy.
In embracing this perspective, we might find that happiness is not a breeze to be chased, but a communal fire to be kindled—burning brightest when shared. When we are privileged enough to do so, it's our duty to navigate beyond the metrics, toward a world where collaboration and common purpose pave the way to thriving tomorrows.
a global affairs media network
Reframing happiness: beyond metrics to meaningful connections
March 21, 2024
We think differently about happiness today than in the past, so that it’s an all–consuming quest. Focusing on the pursuit of happiness can overshadow the essence of true contentment, which lies in forming and being part of meaningful relationships, writes Charlie Ursell.
E
volving from its 14th century roots of “by luck and fortune,” happiness today is something to be actively aspired for—a quest dominating popular culture. From the number of people studying Yale’s most popular ever “happiness” lecture through to unachievable social media aspirations, the world seems to be on a collective journey to capture happiness and take it home. It is an elusive quest, and like the mythical will–o–the–wisp that lures travelers from the path to their demise, focusing on this pursuit of happiness could overshadow the essence of true contentment.
In North America, as another potential “worst wildfire season on record” is rapidly approaching, this International Happiness Day invites us to consider the nuanced nature of happiness and contemplate the extent to which the United Nations’ metrics illuminate or obscure its true meaning.
The first metric used in the World Happiness Report has traditionally been GDP. While this acknowledges the grim reality of poverty, we also know that, beyond a certain threshold, wealth does not equate to happiness. For example, the Scandinavian concepts of Hygge and Lykke offer a nuanced understanding, thinking about the everyday pursuit of joy in life as well as the present moment fleeting pleasures from the simple cozy things in life. This offers us a way of thinking about the time horizons happiness beyond GDP can take.
Comparing our lives to manicured glimpses on social media or numerical benchmarks offers little real insight. Attempting to measure anything requires a benchmark. Perhaps a form of monitoring with a conscious awareness of the intricacies of human experience might lead us to a different understanding.
At the heart of happiness lies connectedness—forging meaningful relationships with all our senses and in being in the same space as each other. It’s often in the crucible of crises and challenging experiences that profound relationships are formed, binding us in the pursuit of collaborative solutions resulting in flourishing communities.
As we observe International Happiness Day, let's shift our focus from only looking at the quantifiable measures to thinking and feeling deeply about the qualitative experiences that bind us. Let’s champion the warmth of companionship, the strength derived from community, and the enduring satisfaction of shared purpose. These are the unquantifiable, unmeasurable aspects of life that breed genuine joy.
In embracing this perspective, we might find that happiness is not a breeze to be chased, but a communal fire to be kindled—burning brightest when shared. When we are privileged enough to do so, it's our duty to navigate beyond the metrics, toward a world where collaboration and common purpose pave the way to thriving tomorrows.
