I also pray that while I am but king of a small Himalayan nation, I may in my time be able to do much to promote the greater well being and happiness of all people in this world — of all sentient beings. His Majesty, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Bhutan is the only country in the world that has as a national policy the desire to increase the "Gross Domestic Happiness" or GDH. Correct. The goal of the government is to increase the happiness of it's citizenry. King Wangchuck declared as a step towards economic development that he would focus on happiness versus commercial ventures. It appears that this has "produced society-wide benefits". Even though most of the country's population are subsistence farmers they do have food on the table and healthcare. As a nation they have refused to engage economic growth in any way that might compromise the health and beauty of their country.
How do you measure the Gross Domestic Happiness?
It would be easy as westerners to laugh this off but before you do consider as least for a moment that perhaps Bhutan has put things in good working order. As you will see below, they are tracking a number of indices which have been correlated to happiness and also recognize economic wellness and other factors as contributors. By boosting happiness we not only increase experiences of joy, contentment, love and awe but also improve our energy levels, immune system and our engagement with our work life. Studies indicate a 31% increase in performance when we bolster our productivity with happiness. How happy are you?
About WindRiver Strategies
Need A Happiness Speaker?
It would be easy as westerners to laugh this off but before you do consider as least for a moment that perhaps Bhutan has put things in good working order. As you will see below, they are tracking a number of indices which have been correlated to happiness and also recognize economic wellness and other factors as contributors. By boosting happiness we not only increase experiences of joy, contentment, love and awe but also improve our energy levels, immune system and our engagement with our work life. Studies indicate a 31% increase in performance when we bolster our productivity with happiness. How happy are you?
About WindRiver Strategies
Need A Happiness Speaker?
- Economic Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of economic metrics such as consumer debt, average income to consumer price index ratio and income distribution
- Environmental Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of environmental metrics such as pollution, noise and traffic
- Physical Wellness: Indicated via statistical measurement of physical health metrics such as severe illnesses
- Mental Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of mental health metrics such as usage of antidepressants and rise or decline of psychotherapy patients
- Workplace Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of labor metrics such as jobless claims, job change, workplace complaints and lawsuits
- Social Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of social metrics such as discrimination, safety, divorce rates, complaints of domestic conflicts and family lawsuits, public lawsuits, crime rates
- Political Wellness: Indicated via direct survey and statistical measurement of political metrics such as the quality of local democracy, individual freedom, and foreign conflicts.
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