Debi Prasad Sahoo, [04.06.

19 20:04]

Q1. What is happiness index ?

Happiness Index is a development philosophy as well as an index which is used to

measure the collective happiness in a nation. ... The term 'Happiness Index' was
coined in 1979 during an interview at Bombay airport when the then king of Bhutan,
Jigme Singye Wangchuck, said "We do not believe in Gross National Product."

Q2. How is happiness index calculated ?

Happiness index is measured using parameters like Housing, Income, Work, Community,
Civic Engagement, Education, Environment, Health, Life Satisfaction, Safety and
Life-Work balance.

A few of the factors that contributed to a country making the list: whether people
living there had strong social support (robust communities); whether citizens felt
they could trust their government; and whether they lived in freedom.

Q3. Which country has the lowest HI and why ?

It rated Burundi as the least happy country, followed by Syria, Togo, Afghanistan
and Benin.

Of the 156 countries surveyed, the report determined that people in South Sudan are
the most unhappy with their lives, followed by Central African Republic,
Afghanistan, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Q4. Which country has the highest HI and why ?

As per 2019 Happiness Report, Finland is the happiest country in the world, with
Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and the Netherlands holding the next top positions.

All the top countries tend to have high values for all six of the key variables
that have been found to support well-being: income, healthy life expectancy, social
support, freedom, trust and generosity.

Q5. What is the happiness index of India, Finland and USA ? Why is the value
different in all the three countries ?

Finland - 1

USA - 19

India - 140

India has dropped down seven spots in the happiness rankings as compared to its
2018 ranking. Times of India quoted the

report saying with the increase in population, the overall happiness has dropped
worldwide. In 2018, India was placed on

133 position, but this year its ranking went down to 140.

The U.S. came in 19th, a one-place drop from 2018's report and a five-spot drop
since 2017's.

The U.S.'s place is a part of a trend for the worlds biggest superpowers, none of
which broke the ranking�s top 10.

Why does the U.S. continue to drop, despite economic growth?

The United Nations has produced the World Happiness Report using data from Gallup
World Poll surveys since 2012. In that

same time frame, the U.S. has dropped from its highest place � 13th � to its lowest
of 19th in 2019's report.

Except for its 10th-place ranking for income, the US did not rank in the top 10 on
measures that make up a happy country in

the report, placing 12th for generosity, 37th for social support, 61st for freedom
and 42nd for corruption.

The report directly points to the country�s issues with addiction and high-use of
digital media as reasons for its

declining happiness.

�This year�s report provides sobering evidence of how addictions are causing
considerable unhappiness and depression in the

U.S.,� said report co-author Jeffrey Sachs. �Addictions come in many forms, from
substance abuse to gambling to digital

media. The compulsive pursuit of substance abuse and addictive behaviors is causing
severe unhappiness.�

From a policy standpoint, Sachs says the U.S. has failed to react to the issues it
faces, such as obesity rates being among

the highest in the world; rising rates of adolescent depression; rising age-
adjusted suicide rates since the year 2000; a

searing opioid epidemic; and falling overall life expectancy

[Via World Happiness Report]

�In view of the multiple addictive epidemics underway in the United States that are
contributing to shockingly adverse
public health outcomes," Sachs wrote, "... one would expect a major public policy
response.

"Yet the shocking truth is that U.S. public health responses have been small, even
insignificant, to date. If anything, the

epidemics expose the remarkable power of corporate vested interests in American

political life, power that is so great that

it has forestalled any effective respon

Debi Prasad Sahoo, [04.06.19 20:04]

ses that would jeopardize corporate profits and control.�

The U.S. has an average policy rating of 4.92, according to Sustainable Governance
Indicators, when looking at economic,

social and environmental policy. Finland, meanwhile, received an average rating of

7.5 when looking at those same policies.

Q6. When do we celebrate happiness day and why ?

In 2012 the first ever UN conference on Happiness took place and the UN General
Assembly adopted a resolution which decreed that the International Day of Happiness
would be observed every year on 20 March. It was celebrated for the first time in
2013.

The day is to inspire individuals to sharehappiness with others and create ahappier
world for all. The 2018 theme�Share Happiness� focuses on the importance of
relationships, kindness and helping each other.

Q7. Which are the top 10 happiest countries of the world ?

According to the United Nations, the 10 happiest countries in 2019 are:

Finland

Denmark

Norway

Iceland

The Netherlands

Switzerland

Sweden

New Zealand

Canada

Austria
Q8. How can we keep ourselves happy ?

what is happiness?

Of all of the definitions of happiness, my favorite is from psychologist Tal Ben-

Shahar, who defines it as �the overall experience of pleasure and meaning.� I find
it true that neither �pleasure� nor �meaning� alone quite describe happiness. You
need meaning to give you a sense of purpose in life, and you need pleasure to give
you a sense of joy or well-being in the present moment.

If you want to be happier, just add pleasure or meaning to your life (assuming your
pleasures or purposes do not harm you or another person). You�ll discover that
you�ll not only be happier in the moment, you'll also increase your ability to be
happier in the future.

Keeping yourself happy is about having a general sense of well-being and life
satisfaction. Having positive emotions have also been linked to health and
longevity.

You can learn to keep yourself happy in life by: loving and accepting yourself,
thinking realistically, engaging in positive activities, and working toward your
personal goals.

The following happiness enhancers will increase your immediate sense of pleasure or
your sense of your life�s meaning, or both�in the blink of an eye. You don�t need
another person to help you, and you can practice the techniques almost anywhere�at
work, at home, outside, in your car. Only your willing mind is required.

My Happiness Secret - How to Become Happy Always

0. Be Meditative

Meditation is a way to peel up the deepest layer of the being and to experience the
inherent nature of the soul - peace, purity, love, joy and bliss. Happiness can't
be the part of our life without love, selflessness, desireless state of the mind.

Contemplating about the purpose of life and unlock all possibilities to become
enlightenment, insightfullness and mindfulness.

To cut the throat of our animalistic instincts, worldly desires, passions - which
are the root cause of misery, pain and suffering, meditation can act as a
"Brahmastra" - powerful weapon.

Meditation is the rehearsal to become a best actor of this live play before exposed
to this world. Your repeatative positive thought patterns, imaginations,
visualisations can create new world - heaven on this earth.

1. The feeling of gratitude.

You had a good breakfast, you have healthy body, or you enjoyed a warm Sunshine
this morning. Absorb that feeling of gratitude for a few moments. Lingering on a
positive experience helps embed it in your brain.

3. Take time to appreciate something that didn�t happen during your day.

No one in your family got sick, you didn�t have car trouble, and you didn't fight
with anyone. Remember to keep things in perspective.

4. A Rosy Smile.

Happiness can also come from the outside. The deliberate decision to smile, for
example, actually activates happiness-inducing chemicals. And remember - a
beautiful smile can lighten this world.

5. Wear a necklace of Contentment

Peace, Happiness, Contentment - these are the soul's original inherent qualities
can

Debi Prasad Sahoo, [04.06.19 20:04]

't be fully and permanently access from this superficial materialistic and short
lived enjoyment.

Angry. Helpless. Sad. Anxious. - These are the choices. You can reject by using yor
freewill.

6. Harmony between emotion and Intellect

When your emotions controlled by your intellect and intellect by your emotion. A
good Harmony in between the both left and right hemisphere of your brain can ease
your suffering, making you hurt less and feel more in control.

6. Sit up straight.

Poor posture can actually cause negative emotional states. Studies show that people
who slouch experience more bad moods, lower self-esteem, and poorer confidencethan
those with upright posture. Sitting up straight can cause positive emotional
states�a sense of confidence, assertiveness, and a happier mood. Good posture also
helps your physical well-being and prevents many types of neck, shoulder, and back
problems. So to lift your mood, pull your body upward. You�ll feel happier.

7. Notice the small pleasures in life and appreciate them.

Author and Psychology Today blogger Rick Hanson writes about the health and
happiness benefits of �taking in the good� in his groundbreaking book, Hardwiring
Happiness.

He recommends appreciating the little things, noting, "Most opportunities for a

good experience arrive with little fanfare. You finished an email, the telephone
works, you have a friend.� For the best results, bring pleasant objects, thoughts,
and people to the foreground of your awareness. Linger for five seconds or more on
a good experience to allow it to sink into you. Your happiness level will steadily
increase.

8. Appreciate yourself.

Think of one thing you�ve already accomplished or handled well today or focus on a
good quality you�ve demonstrated�a start to a project, a phone call, or even an
honest talk with a colleague that ended well. Drawing your attention to your
strengths will lift your spirits.

9. Be an Optimistic

Find positive meaning in negative events.

If you experience a setback, can you find a rapid way to turn it into lemonade?
Start by thinking about the setback as a challenge rather than a failure. That
should take five seconds or less. In the remaining 25, begin to think about how to
move forward.

10. Use a desktop photo to remind you of the purposes and pleasures of your life.

A photo of your family, your travels, or a favorite saying can be restorative and
promote moments of happiness. Taking a �micro-break� and enjoying a photo of a
natural scene can promote good health by lowering stress and blood pressure�as well
as happiness. To keep from getting used to a particular photo, periodically change
it up.

Why Practice Happiness Habits?

The benefits may seem obvious; after all, feeling happy feels good! But the value
of happiness habits goes even deeper.

In Hardwiring Happiness, Rick Hanson points out that negativity is hardwired into
our brains. We are predisposed to pay more attention to bad things than good
things. This negativity bias has helped us survive by making us aware of possible
threats, problems, and stressors in our environment. However, if we are ruled only
by our negativity, we miss opportunities for pleasure, joy, good relationships, and
humor. Happiness activities help balance out the negativity bias so that we see and
experience the positive aspects of life.
Experiencing and absorbing moments of happiness has long-term brain benefits. Happy
experiences and thoughts can actually grow new neural circuits in your brain. These
neural structures provide you with inner strengths such as resilience, gratitude,
enthusiasm, and happiness.

So try these small steps. You�ll find not only that your Happiness Quotient rises
with every micro-moment of happiness, but also that making yourself happy becomes
easier as you practice.

NOTE: If you suffer from mental health issues like depression or you are going
through a catastrophic life event, these activities may not help enough. Consider
seeing a therapist.

For more on happiness, health, and habits, see my book, Changepower! 37

Debi Prasad Sahoo, [04.06.19 20:04]

Secrets to Habit Change Success (Routledge, 2009), or follow me on Facebook,
Twitter, or LinkedIn by scrolling down to my photo and clicking on the appropriate
icon.