The International Index of Happiness or Happy Planet Index, reflects the appreciation of being on the planet and at the same time, it exposes a curious paradox: that the happiest countries are not necessarily the richest.
Argentina, despite the crisis, and mosquito bites, is not as bad as many believe. It ranks 47th in the ranking of happiness in the world, above countries like Switzerland or idealized United States.
It appears that happiness does not cost us as much as we thought. At the top of the list are the islands of Vanuatu (Pacific), followed closely by Colombia and then Costa Rica, while the United States appears far away in the place 150 on a total of 178 and the Swiss are at 65.
The index measures the perception of welfare, both social and individual, associated with eco-efficiency and life expectancy in each country. While it is the exact levels of happiness, it does show the degree to which each country approaches a basic set of requirements that people need to be happy.
According to Ignacio Trujillo, a writer specializing in issues related to the way we live and interact, the Argentines have learned to be happy by dint of suffering. “They can come play yard, global financial crisis, corrupt politicians, etc., but we seem increasingly determined to give priority to enjoy the small pleasures of everyday life.”
Can you learn to be happy?
“All we asked ourselves whether we are happy to remain as we are, whether we like the work we do if our relationship is full, if the person is what we imagined when we were teenagers. The race begins with happiness and life is endless, from children we do everything possible to be loved by mom and dad, teen invent anything to be accepted by our group membership, when we know the first love, we try keep regardless … But as we become adults, the sense of wonder begins to threaten and, if we are not careful with it also jeopardized the passion and the ability to play and enjoy them, “says Trujillo.
But how do those who are connected with great optimism, with the desire to grow and learn and the passion for living? “What they all have in common is a positive attitude,” says Trujillo, “there is no formula, a spa, which all attend, a position kamasutra, or a favorable economic situation for all of them, there is nothing outside it resolved . “
According to the specialist, a good way to change attitudes is watching people react to the same event differently from ours, which is not the only or the true and, therefore, possible to modify.