At 116, Sri Lanka is just a little more ‘happier’ than Iraq (117) and much less so than its ardent economic ally China (86) as per the World’s Happiness Index that watches over 156 countries.
While Sri Lanka languishes in the bottom quarter, coming right on top as the world’s happiest country is Finland, followed by Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland. USA drops one down this year to 19.
So, what makes Sri Lankans so sad? Income, social support, healthy life, social freedom, or the lack of it and corruption in abundance!
Now, this is really sad for such a small, yet abundantly blessed islands in the world known for a happy and hospitable people, says Dr. Dinesh Watawana, Sri Lanka Update’s, chief socio-economic analyst. At the center of the cancer that’s eating into our collective happiness is greed and indiscipline – where more and more people, from top to bottom are driven by a single-minded fixation for quick gain where values have taken a long holiday, he avers.
The global survey by the UN points to widespread unhappiness caused by ‘addictions’. Addictions come in various forms and include money, worldly desires, substance abuse, gambling and even digital media. Our desire for economic success at any cost coupled with vanishing values and good work ethic allows criminal thinking to seep into our minds, says Dr. Watawana who holds a Ph.D in Criminal Psychology and an MBA in International Business.
We may be getting unhappier- largely due to a breakdown in national leadership but Sri Lankans have been endowed with the ‘perfect medicine’ for true happiness – found in the precepts of Buddhism, Dr. Watawana says. Happiness is a state of mind and that index lies within our minds, he added.
Want to be happy?
Quickest way to becoming happy!
It’s a decision – one that turns into habit. We either keep complaining about what we don’t have, envy what others have and find quick fixes, or we decide to appreciate what we have that many others out there may not, and start smiling for the slightest reason. Start being happy, one hour at a time and watch the magic!