This year, Finland has been crowned the 鈥渉appiest country in the world鈥�, according to听which was released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations.
While many of us define happiness largely within the context of how much income we earn, the report tells us that this is not in fact a solid definition.
While income is one factor, the report draws its conclusions also from criteria such as supporting well-being, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.听And, in what seems almost a reverse view of the income component, there were some countries who have quite low per-capita incomes but have made great gains in the happiness index. Other much wealthier countries have fallen on the happiness index.
For all who yearn for more joy in life, this report provides an opportunity to think more deeply about the source of happiness. This is especially true if we are feeling a need to guard our happiness because we fear it can be taken away.
The opening part of Jesus鈥檚 Sermon on the Mount, called the Beatitudes, or some say 鈥�
the Be-attitudes, gives a hint that happiness is not as dependent on our circumstances or material things as it is on our attitude. One helpful Bible translation actually uses the word 鈥淗appy鈥� for 鈥淏lessed鈥�.
鈥淗appy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied.听听Happy are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God.听Happy are those who strive for peace鈥攖hey shall be called the sons of God.鈥� (Matthew 5. The Living Bible).
Some of the qualities in Jesus鈥� sermon look like the list in the 2017 World Happiness Report.
Christian healer Mary Baker Eddy certainly endured her share of tragedy, sadness and loss. Yet, those travails turned her to The Scriptures and to God, through which she learned and wrote: 鈥淗appiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.鈥�
I was reminded of this true source of joy in a simple episode a year ago. It was my husband鈥檚 birthday and our two-year old granddaughter was absolutely adamant that she was going to hold a birthday party for him. She wanted candles, balloons and hats 鈥� and to give him the last cupcake she and her mum had recently baked. This was a big deal as she loved cupcakes, so sharing it was quite a sacrifice. My husband was not much of a birthday party fan, but for this little one he agreed.听 听
The day came, the balloons were decorating the table, the hats were on our heads and we sat down to that little cake with a single candle on it. And that was when a memorable moment happened. He started to teach her how to blow out candles. They looked at each other with such love, relishing each moment. And then, with the candle extinguished, they burst into laughter.
When we see joy as a spiritual quality, we see it as the essence of man鈥檚 God-created nature rather than the result of something 鈥� i.e. some- 鈥渢hing鈥� - we have to get. Our granddaughter鈥檚 joy in wanting to share something special with someone she loved speaks to the heart of Jesus鈥檚 鈥淏e-attitudes鈥� and how we 鈥渂e鈥� with each other and with God. Then our joy is unselfish. It spills over and can be shared with everyone because it is simply in our nature for it to do so.
Anna Bowness-Park听is a Christian Science practitioner, who writes frequently on the relationship between consciousness and health, and how prayer can play a role. You can follow her blog at听
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking,
