Strategies for Thriving Despite Less-Than-Optimal Happiness, Based on Research Findings

Strategies for Thriving Despite Less-Than-Optimal Happiness, Based on Research Findings

Living a good life goes beyond simple happiness; it's about flourishing. And new research shows that all countries might not be equally good at fostering this holistic well-being.

Flourishing isn't just about individual happiness; it's a comprehensive evaluation of various aspects of life, including health, financial security, meaning, relationships, and character. According to the Global Flourishing Study, released recently, countries where people flourish the most are not necessarily the happiest ones on the planet.

Indonesia tops the list of flourishing nations, followed by Mexico and the Philippines. Interestingly, these countries do not always rank high in happiness indices. This suggests that while we might be happy, we might not be flourishing.

The Global Flourishing Study, led by Baylor University and Harvard University in partnership with Gallup and the Center for Open Science, surveyed over 207,000 participants across 22 countries and Hong Kong, providing a global perspective on well-being.

While the study does have its limitations, it offers insights into the complexities of living a good life. One surprising result is that young people tend to lag behind other age groups in terms of flourishing, a trend found in other studies as well.

Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, a study contributor, notes that while there are theories about why youths are struggling, such as competitive education systems or perceived lack of social mobility, much remains to be understood.

The study identifies six domains of life that contribute to a good life: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial security. Richer nations reported higher financial security and a better overall life, but they often fell short in areas like purpose, relationships, and virtue.

This raises important questions about how we can pursue economic development without compromising other aspects of life. Some of the countries with the highest levels of flourishing were unsuspecting, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nigeria, which weren't among the top happiest countries.

On the other hand, countries like Sweden and the United States, which ranked high in happiness, did not score as well in the flourishing study. Understanding these disparities will be key in the years ahead.

While further research is needed, there are aspects of flourishing that individuals can influence. Reflecting on the 12 core flourishing questions can help individuals assess their lives and identify areas for improvement. Human connection, such as participating in religion or civic life, or regularly sharing meals, also plays a crucial role in fostering well-being.

However, some factors affecting well-being are beyond individual control, such as conflict, natural disasters, and economic hardship. In these cases, structural solutions may be needed to address population-wide issues of well-being.

12 Core Flourishing Questions:

1. How satisfied are you with life as a whole these days?
2. In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel?
3. How would you rate your physical health?
4. How would you rate your overall mental health?
5. Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?
6. I understand my purpose in life.
7. I always act to promote good in all circumstances, even in difficult and challenging situations.
8. I am always able to give up some happiness now for greater happiness later.
9. I am content with my friendships and relationships.
10. My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be.
11. How often do you worry about being able to meet normal monthly living expenses?
12. How often do you worry about safety, food, or housing?
13. The Global Flourishing Study suggests that countries where people flourish the most are not necessarily the happiest ones on the planet, like Indonesia, Mexico, and the Philippines.
14. The study identifies six domains of life that contribute to a good life: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial security.
15. While the study does have its limitations, it offers insights into the complexities of living a good life and reveals surprising results, such as young people tend to lag behind other age groups in terms of flourishing.
16. The 12 core flourishing questions can help individuals assess their lives and identify areas for improvement, incorporating aspects like physical health, mental health, purpose, relationships, and financial security.
17. Understanding these disparities between flourishing and happiness will be key in the years ahead, considering that countries like Sweden and the United States, which ranked high in happiness, did not score as well in the flourishing study.
18. Some factors affecting well-being are beyond individual control, such as conflict, natural disasters, and economic hardship, which demand structural solutions to address population-wide issues of well-being.

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