A global study compared what makes people happy in each country — America’s answer surprised everyone
Doing something for others can give you a sense of joy like no other. Think of a time when you might have helped a stranger in need, maybe just shared a smile or a hello, or even helped pick up something another person dropped. They’re the smallest gestures but they leave a warm and wholesome impact. And now, even researchers are backing this up. The Washington Post shared what researchers discovered in their attempt to study the happiness level across countries. Naturally, with the levels, they also tried to determine what caused or affected these rates of happiness. Being kind ranked as the top reason for Americans to derive happiness. It surprised many, considering the bleak news and dark times we live in. The study also offers hope for a much kinder and better world.
The study included several countries, including Egypt, Japan, and Indonesia, among 140 countries. Each country had different levels of happiness and different percentages of inclusion when it came to possible sources of joy. The best part about this is that all countries found contentment by doing something for or with others; it’s just each unique one that made every poll so delightful. The U.S. ranked 24th in the level of happiness, with Finland at the top. It was also classified as one of the “happier countries” because of its rank. According to the World Happiness Report, the country also showed great percentages with generosity, social support and freedom.
So what’s bringing the smiles — Helping a stranger or even someone they didn’t know needed the help. While Jamaica topped the scale with 83% helping, the U.S. came shortly after with a solid 74%. This means way more of you have gone out of your way to do something for someone. Maybe you paid it forward, maybe you wrote a note, maybe you just gave a cup of coffee, or maybe you just listened. But that’s what the stunning news is — research shows that all of these helped to make you happy, kind-hearted and glow from within!
Michelle Beadle Holder, a Maryland-based social scientist who grew up in Jamaica, shared a special explanation of how their people develop nature to assist. “You climb waterfalls by holding hands with the person next to you, it doesn’t matter if they are family or a stranger. The idea is that if someone trips, others are there to hold them up," Holder said. And somehow, in the abstract, that’s just what the people of the U.S. have also been doing for each other, silently lifting one another up. Dr. Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and an associate professor at Brandman University, also supports this theory, as she revealed in a TED talk.
“People who volunteer have been shown to have greater happiness, more life satisfaction, and fewer depressive symptoms,” Pearlman noted. She recalled an experiment where people were given a few dollars to use and it was discovered that those who shared it or spent it with others were more content. The States also marked a good level of happiness by donating money to charity. While Indonesia topped that scale with 87%, the U.S. had a good 60%. Aulia Nastiti, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Research at Monash University in Indonesia, shared a precious perspective. “People feel good when they give,” the researcher said, adding that it also works as “social insurance” for many. As Pearlman said, “Even just thinking of our good deeds and our kind acts makes us happier. It's the gift that keeps on giving."
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