{"id":1938,"date":"2019-04-17T07:37:28","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T13:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/textor.ca\/?p=1938"},"modified":"2020-08-12T16:42:32","modified_gmt":"2020-08-12T22:42:32","slug":"how-to-measure-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.textor.ca\/how-to-measure-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Measure Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
Happiness is elusive but it helps focus an individual with their life design if they consider what metrics contribute to happiness. These metrics might be in error, but at least they are something. The 6 measures, as explained by NPR\u2019s \u201cThe Indicator\u201d podcast, are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
These measures have been found to be highly correlated with people\u2019s overall happiness. Of these measures social support and GDP per capita are the most important. But at some point, GDP per capita stops mattering; the Easterlin paradox. \u201cIt’s the idea that wealth adds to people’s happiness only up to a point. And at some point, for some reason, getting richer stops making you happier.\u201d There are many working theories and here are some of the more prominent ones:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Regardless, the researcher shares that he\u2019s changed his behaviour as a result of this research and recommends \u201c\u2026[T]o start conversations with strangers, to smile at people in the streets, to assume the best rather than the worst about them is a win-win situation. And so, I do it more than I used to. And that’s improved my happiness. And I hope it’s improved somebody else’s, as well. \u2026\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/money\/2019\/04\/08\/711132741\/how-to-measure-happiness<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n https:\/\/worldhappiness.report\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Canada is #9, Finland #1. Excel file with the data is here (\u201cChapter 2 \u2013 online data \u2018Figure2.6\u2019 worksheet):<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/happiness-report\/2019\/Chapter2OnlineData.xls<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Canada is just 6% behind Finland and USA is 12.72% behind (5.6% behind Canada). South Sudan, #156, is 272% behind Finland. Surprisingly Australia is at #11 with all it\u2019s sunshine and most goods being locally sourced.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Easterlin Paradox:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n