No, it's not Disneyland. It's Denmark, according to UK's University of Leicester's study on happiness. So, why is cold dreary rainy Denmark the happiest place on earth? It's fascinating. Here are some reasons.1) Danes trust their government. They don't mind paying the highest taxes in the world, because they feel that the government is efficient and they feel taken care of and secure. Danes spend more money on their young and elderly per capita.
2) Danes choose jobs based on what they want do, not how much money they will make since most jobs pay about the same. A garbage man has about the same salary as a physician, and is just as respected.
3) Strong community and relationships are their secret to happiness. 92% of Danes belong to some social community, whether it's a singing or dancing club. The government even subsidizes these groups. Danes are interdependent and socially connected.
4) Denmark is a "post-consumerist" culture. They are not materialistic and shopping is not a priority. They can afford nice things but they don't accumulate them. They are not about status. Even though they can afford cars, they choose bicycles.
5) They trust each other and feel safe. Mothers leave their babies in strollers outside cafes, they buy groceries at stands on the honor system, bikes are unlocked.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in this type of society? The sad thing is that the US is completely opposite in the things that cause happiness. Our government is inefficient and not trusted. We don't take care of the less fortunate or needy. We feel like we have to fight to take care of ourselves. We are isolated and unconnected in our communities because people are divided by differences. We are very materialistic and status conscious.
I know that there are some who will be happy or unhappy no matter what the circumstances, but there are definitely things that cause us to experience happiness - which to me is a gauge of things like being secure, safe, content, respected and loved. The human heart wants those things and that's how we were created. But how do we experience these things in our society where advertisers judge our worth, over half the population is stripped of security and love through divorce, we are so independent that we don't know our neighbors or are suspicious of them, and our self respect is damaged by the sex and violence we are expose to everyday.
I've been trying to live a life against these cultural norms but it's really hard. I try to live in community by being in a home group at church. I joined a book club also to be exposed to other people's views on life. I try to give to charity and save instead of spend. I'm looking for career that will give me a sense of purpose and significance in life. Even all these things do not bring the kind of safety, contentment, and love that I suspect only truly can be experienced through a relationship with God, in whom true life can be found. After all it's Christ that said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
