HAPPINESS QUOTIENT
Measuring and analyzing happiness has been the subject of research in the last few decades. This is the topic of discussion in Times of India of Jul 13, 08. As per one Professor of Deakin University, Australia, happiness can be quantified. He has used a Personal Well-Being Index, having seven questions of satisfaction, each one of which is rated on a 0-10 scale, and then averaged out for each person. Some other surveys have been done for assessing the life as a whole in 0-10 scale, and for assessing the happiness in four categories. Such well-being indices are being used for different nations. One survey found that Denmark was the happiest in the world. It was also on top in two other world assessments. However, the results may vary as per the methods used. One basis is the efficient use of the resources of the country, for long and happy lives of its people. The term Gross National Happiness measures, material and spiritual wealth amongst its people. Bhutan has high position on such surveys. The happiness of the people of a country is an important factor. But some persons think differently. We should not think unhappiness as a disease. It also has benefits. There are doubts about correctly measuring happiness. It also varies from time to time. Sometimes answers received in surveys are funny. Also there are special cases. Gautama became Buddha, since he was not happy. Unhappiness may also have its own rewards. But it is still better to be less unhappy. With reasonable comfort and no distress, we will have happiness automatically. We should be happy, while we are living.
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