Goodness and Mercy

The International Happiness Day is observed on March 20 every year as decided by UN conference on Happiness. World Happiness Index is released annually by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). They measure countries and regions on a Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. The success of a country would be measured by its citizens' happiness.

In the recent years, countries like Norway and Denmark ranked on the top and Syria at the bottom, and US ranked around 14. The reasons of declining happiness reported were decline of social support and increase in corruption. The main factors found to support happiness were caring and security. Many countries have taken steps to improve their happiness index. Dubai established a department to improve happiness while the UAE appointed a minister of happiness.

But studies have indicated that happiness is not based on objective circumstances. A study on Olympic medalists discovered that those who won Bronze were happier than those who won Silver medals. Silver medalists tended to focus on how close they came to winning gold so they weren’t satisfied with silver. Bronze medalists tended to focus on how close they came to not winning a medal; they were just happy to be on the medal stand. Based on objective circumstances, Silver Medalists would be happier. However, the study reveals that experience of happiness is based on subjective focus.

I am happy when I can get up in the morning, able to breathe and see, smell, touch and taste. I am happy to have the love of my family and friends. These are simply gifts of the Creator without any condition. David closes Psalm 23 by saying that because of the care of a great Shepherd, goodness and mercy shall follow him all the days of his life.

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Blessings

Mathew Philip

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