In 2008, Denmark ranked as the happiest nation on the planet, according to the World Map of Happiness and the World Values Survey. These happiness surveys polled people around the globe on â you guessed it â how happy and satisfied they are with life. Folks in Denmark showed an impressively high degree of social connections, career satisfaction and political and economic stability â all of which are known to promote happiness.
But what does it even mean that the Danish consider themselves happier than a lot of other people around the world? What were the surveys measuring, exactly? According to Webster, happiness is âa state of well-being and contentment.â That emotional state the dictionary refers to is arguably different for everyone. At the same time, we know the physical effects of happiness; humans smile and laugh as a natural sign of glee. Certain physiological reactions, such as increased activity in the brainâs left prefrontal lobe and decreased amounts of cortisol (a stress hormone) coursing through the bloodstream, happen when weâre happy.
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
What has been the happiest time of your life?
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy?
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything, or almost nothing? Explain.
Post your response here. If you have any questions let me know.
I measure my own happiness by satisfaction. Money also makes me happy but satisfaction makes me even more happy. Iâve had a lot of happy times but the happiest time of my life was when I saw my mom for the first time in 2 years back in 2018. I was extremely happy seeing her. The pandemic definitely affected my happiness. Not being able to go out and see my friends and play soccer did not make me happy at all. The pandemic was probably the saddest time of my life not only because of those factors but other personal factors. My life is close to my ideal because Iâm doing the things that I like and the things that I want to do for the most part. The conditions of my life are okay. Some things could definitely be better about my life but I canât complain. I wouldnât say Iâm satisfied with my life but also wouldnât Iâm unsatisfied. So far I havenât really gotten the important things I want in my life but I still have a lot of time to achieve those things. If I could live over again I would change a lot of things because Iâve made a lot of mistakes in the past that I would love to change. Also, if I could live Life ever again I would take high school way more seriously.
Happiness is defined by you.
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
Typically, it just depends on how I act during the day, such as cracking in-jokes, dancing, helping one another, or even complimenting someone else.
What has been the happiest time of your life?
Perhaps being able to buy my own stuff with the money I had worked for, the most impactful item is a laptop, I always wanted a highâend laptop for special uses and was able to buy one.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
Of course, it did. It was just me and my family in the house while looking at the dead outside, our friends and family were unable to see each other. Everything was online, it was difficult but for me, I made a connection with my friends and became close with them.
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?
Iâm rather happy because there are still problems presented in day-to-day life and no matter how I confront them they are still there. So, I try to confront them some of it goes by, and they are still there.
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
No, not at all. A lot of things arenât what I expected but they are just things I learned to accept. All it takes is time. Many things are out of my control, so I just let it be. Of course, not letting it directly affect me.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
Honestly no, nothing is perfect, itâs okay the way they are but they could be better. If anything could change would be the amount of money in my bank account, that will help a lot right now. Health is still somewhat of an issue.
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
Iâm okay, I have health issues that I learned to live with, but there are still insecurities present. I love my parents and friends, but I need to focus on myself to get what I really want. So, if I were to place my life on a scale of 1 â 10. It will be 6/10.
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
Nope not yet. Money is still something I still want. A room is what I want, I want to leave New York, obtain my degree, have a job, and have enough food. In other words, a lot, but I am grateful for what I have now.
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything or almost nothing? Explain.
Thatâs a good question. In summary, I would tell my parents to not leave the U.S. Iâm guessing a lot of things were to be different. Maybe even happier. The reason for this is, comparing South America with North America the main difference between them is money. So, money is the reason why I think things would be different.
I measure my happiness depending on how much time I spend doing things that I love such as hanging out with loved ones. The happiest time of my life was when I went back to my home country Albania for the first time after almost 5 years. Going back and meeting with my old friends was just a boost of serotonin.I believe the pandemic did affect me in some ways. I love sports and I used to play sports in high school and not being able to get off my bed during such time was the most difficult thing to go through. I would say that I am rather happy with myself right now. I can do better than what I am doing but the environment and the people that currently surround me make that a little hard. My life is not so close to the ideal life I have imagined for myself. Outside my house I surround myself with people who are positive and I can be myself with but when Iâm in my house I cannot really do that since my parents have an old mentality.The conditions of my life are great. I am not so satisfied with my current life. I believe I can do better. What I consider important in life is being around people that make me feel happy and comfortable. So yes I have gotten one important thing I want in life.There is a lot I would change if I were to go back in time. I would love for some things to have been done differently but without the situations I have been through I would not be who I am today. The things I have been through have made me stronger and if little me would see me today, she would be proud.
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
When I feel comfortable and relaxed.
What has been the happiest time of your life?
When we had online classes, and when I had to go to school in person I had to wake up at 5:30 am and our school started at 8:00 am, and I repeated this for 8 years. However, when we had online classes I slept until 7:30 so I could sleep 2 hours more. This was the happiest time in my life sleeping more.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
For me, it positively affected me like sleeping more and being home all day.
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?
I would say Iâm happy I have parents who sent me to New York to study and have a better future for myself sacrificing theirs, and very grateful living here and happy.
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
No, like everyone else I want to be wealthy and live comfortably in my house sleeping, playing games, and enjoying life.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
I think as a student yes. Something I could change would be to use my time more carefully.
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
Yes
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
No, I havenât achieved my goals.
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything or almost nothing? Explain.
Yes, I would, I would call my family because they live far away, and you never know when will be your last time seeing them, and I would study very hard.
In my point of view, Happiness can be defined as a state of emotional well-being and contentment that arises from a harmonious combination of factors. It is the feeling of security and joy that stems from meaningful relationships with loved ones, such as family and close friends, and the shared experiences of laughter, shared meals, and cherished moments. This joy is closely intertwined with one’s health, as the saying goes, “Health is wealth,” underscoring the importance of physical and mental well-being in the pursuit of happiness. While money can play a role in facilitating happiness, it is not the sole path, as true happiness is not measured by material wealth alone. Rather, it is profoundly influenced by the quality of our connections with others, the warmth of our relationships, and the sense of mental satisfaction derived from having a secure and purposeful life, often enabled by a fulfilling job. In essence, happiness is a multifaceted state nurtured by a tapestry of human connections, health, purpose, and life’s simple joys.
When I was in a relationship with someone who really cared about me, I felt secure. The same applied to spending time with my family, enjoying activities like watching movies and savoring delicious food; these experiences defined my happiness. Additionally, it’s closely intertwined with our health condition since ‘Health is wealth.’
While money can certainly contribute to my happiness, it’s not a guarantee. I know a few people who have substantial wealth but lack good relationships with their family and friends. This doesn’t lead to a meaningful life. Hence, it’s truly important to cultivate meaningful relationships with people who hold a special place in your heart.
I also believe that securing a promising job can enhance our happiness, as it provides a sense of security in our lives, leading to mental satisfaction.
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
I measured my happiness by reviewing what I have done and how satisfied I feel, and how hopeful this happiness brings to my future.
What has been the happiest time of your life?
I never had the happiest time in my life.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
The pandemic affect my happiness since I was staying at home with my family during the pandemic and within the time goes, thereâs more fighting between me and my families.
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy?
I will say Iâm not very happy.
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
I think my life is close to my ideal since the life that Iâm looking for is just quiet and ordinary. Now I have a stable part time job, and study in college to get a more stable job, which is dental hygienist. Therefore, I believe that my life is close to my ideal.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
i think the conditions of my life are not excellent since. The thing that I can change for now are just earn more money and get a high gpa.
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
Iâm not satisfied with my life.
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
No.
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything, or almost nothing? Explain.
I will change nothing, since thereâs too many things Iâm not able to control at a certain age, such as families and money, so even though I start over my life again, itâs actually gonna be the same result as now
First of all, I am truly thankful to God for giving me an opportunity to breathe, which is how I first discovered happiness in him. The most joyful time of my life will be when I find peace with myself because, in 2021, I was truly happy with my family, friends, and the love of my life. And since I am happy with God, the other came after nicely. Since then, despite all of the challenges, I’ve been happier than ever. The global pandemic of 2020 had a major effect on people globally, and I would never pretend that it had no personal impact on me. It was a very depressing time for everyone, and no one could have predicted the issues that faced the world at that time. More specifically, too much loss. My life is currently very similar to what I imagined because I am almost finished with my education, which is my proudest accomplishment, and I work in an area that I love and can earn a huge salary (money). And my life is currently in somewhat good shape because, from what I’ve observed, every relationship I’ve been in has ended in tension. I’ve learned from each of them, which has made me more driven to succeed and less afraid to lose everything because I know that God has a purpose for me. I am attempting to live in peace because when I do, I feel comfortable. In conclusion, I would not even waste a moment to go back in time and modify or reconstruct my life since I believe there is still time to do so. “YOU KNOW WHAT AM SAYING!!”
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
Describe my happiness in the ambit the food since I enjoy eating. I ENJOY and really make me happy focus on myself and going to the gym. In addition, my biggest happiness is my family the time I have them around and we do things together. For me those are the three factors that make me happy in a certain WAY.
What has been the happiest time of your life?
the happiest time I have in my life is when I go home and I finally see my bed
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
Yes and no at the same time. Because even tho there was a some issues about people going out I still went out and have fun.But it did affect my happiness since close people got sick and almost die
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy?
I would like to say that I donât really have the answer for this question.
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
No yet, my ideal life is where my fam and I donât need to be worry about money. Living a good life, taking care of my family, have fun and be happier.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
No, maybe can change in the future just depending the effort I put in the this year and the upcoming ones.
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
In a way yes I am satisfied with my life.
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
Not yet, but I’ll make it someday I havenât achieved my goals.¡
If you could live your life over again, would you change anything, or almost nothing? Explain.
Almost nothing, it changed my life and everything that I and my family have gone through. We would not be where we are now, and just as I would not be as I am now, on the one hand, I thank the years that I have a bad time since I am preparing for this adult life. Everything happens for a reason to make us more mature or fight for an improvement.
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
When I feel relaxed.
What has been the happiest time of your life?
There are many happiest times in my life, one of which was when I was in high school. I met 13 very good friends. Although they were not my family, they treated each other like family.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
The pandemic has affected my well-being because during that time it has made me feel anxious and terrified that people around me will die because of it
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy?
I would say Iâm rather happy.
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
In most ways, my life seems to be somewhat close to my ideal. Although there are still many things that need to be done, they are currently being completed one by one.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
My living conditions are not very good, there are too many things to do, and some of them are beyond my ability. If there is anything that can be changed, I think if anything, money can change the situation.
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
Although very tired, I am quite satisfied with my life.
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
So far I haven’t gotten the important things I want in life.
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything, or almost nothing? Explain.
If I could live my life again, I would change my previous attitude towards life. Because I used to be too negative about life before.
I measure my happiness depending on how much time I spend doing things that I love such as hanging out with loved ones. The happiest time of my life was when I went back to my home country Albania for the first time after almost 5 years. Going back and meeting with my old friends was just a boost of serotonin. I believe the pandemic did affect me in some ways. I love sports and I used to play sports in high school and not being able to get off my bed during such time was the most difficult thing to go through. I would say that I am rather happy with myself right now. I can do better than what I am doing but the environment and the people that currently surround me make that a little hard. My life is not so close to the ideal life I have imagined for myself. Outside my house I surround myself with people who are positive, and I can be myself with but when Iâm in my house I cannot really do that since my parents have an old mentality. The conditions of my life are great. I am not so satisfied with my current life. I believe I can do better. What I consider important in life is being around people that make me feel happy and comfortable. So yes, I have gotten one important thing I want in life. There is a lot I would change if I were to go back in time. I would love for some things to have been done differently but without the situations I have been through I would not be who I am today. The things I have been through have made me stronger and if little me would see me today, she would be proud.
Happiness can mean so many things to the point it’s sort of hard to find what exactly makes me feel that happiness, however from my perspective happiness to me equals the success and wish iâve imagined myself, moreover my family united and at least some sort of communication and connecting with one another. One of those happiest moments would be just my overall connection and company of others that I feel comfortable with, more like quality time, since there will be some movement where we don’t even have time to see one another. Since the beginning of the pandemic of 2020 i will say yes, there were some moments such as social distancing was one of the reasons that has been effective not just me however with others as well. At this moment taking all things together, I will say I’m just happy but not entirely happy because who knows maybe things will change or perhaps my happiness can change or later on maybe i want to achieve something else in the future, itâll probably make me more happier than this current moment. At this moment I dont think it’s even close and not even close yet, however socially yes, I still have a connection, when it comes to money to sort of have high expectations with it. The conditions of my life I would say are normal. I do look forward to changing more for the better. I do hope to see some changes in the future among my background. I wouldn’t say I’m fully satisfied with my life right now. I just hope for my future to be happier and meet the expectations that will make me feel like I achieved something I’ve wanted in terms of feeling successful. So far, I sort of do have important things that I want, in fact I’m more than grateful. The thing is I do expect more of myself. If i could live my life over again it would be interesting since i would totally be a completely different person and i would have different expectations and interests involving happiness, i wouldn’t change anything, i’m fine with what i have, who knows later on things can definitely change depending on the path iâm going through.
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
I donât know, I donât measure my happiness
What has been the happiest time of your life?
June 6th, 2015 was the happiest time of my life; FC Barcelona won the Champions League on that day.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
Somehow it did affect me since I loved school, and when I realized that â2 weeks offâ would last longer, I was not happy about it
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?
Overall, I would say that I am not happy at all
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
My life is way far from the ideal; I never imagined my ideal life this way.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
Again, the conditions of my life are deplorable in terms of training, education, work, relationships with family, friends, etc.
Perhaps the balance is what I need; balance between work & education & training. Must stay busy
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
I’m not satisfied with my life. I want peace…
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
I canât disclose the essential things in life I want, but I havenât gotten them yet, and I’m not even sure if I ever willâŚ
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything or almost nothing? Explain
I would move to a famous city in the western part of Saudi Arabia at a young age. I would live, work, grow, and spend my entire life praying to the Almighty
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
I donât know, I donât measure my happiness
What has been the happiest time of your life?
June 6th, 2015 was the happiest time of my life; FC Barcelona won the Champions League on that day.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
Somehow it did affect me since I loved school, and when I realized that â2 weeks offâ would last longer, I was not happy about it
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?
Overall, I would say that I am not happy at all
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
My life is way far from the ideal; I never imagined my ideal life this way.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
Again, the conditions of my life are deplorable in terms of training, education, work, relationships with family, friends, etc. Perhaps the balance is what I need; balance between work & education & training. Must stay busy
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
I’m not satisfied with my life. I want peace…
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
I canât disclose the essential things in life I want, but I havenât gotten them yet, and I’m not even sure if I ever willâŚ
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything or almost nothing? Explain
I would move to a famous city in the western part of Saudi Arabia at a young age. I would live, work, grow, and spend my entire life praying to the Almighty
How do you measure your own happiness, specifically?
I measure my happiness based on several key factors:
⢠Being surrounded by close people, including friends and family.
What has been the happiest time of your life?
My entire life is the happiest time for me. It belongs to me, and I’ve built it in a way that makes me happy. Every circumstance in our lives, even the most challenging ones, can lead to a positive outcome, such as gaining experience or learning. I’ve faced many difficult moments, but c’est la vie. It’s through struggles that we shape our best personalities.
Did the pandemic affect your happiness at all? In what ways, specifically?
It isolated me from everyone I love. It was a very tough time, but I had my job. I also established a routine for myself that made me productive and allowed me to improve.
Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy?
I am a very happy person because I know what makes me happy.
¡ In most ways, is your life close to your ideal? Explain.
The ideal is different for everyone. For me, the process of building success in each sphere of my life brings happiness. I am doing well, so yes, my life is close to my ideal.
¡ Are the conditions of your life excellent? What specifically, if anything, could change?
The conditions of my life are perfect for this phase in my life.
¡ Are you satisfied with your life?
yes
¡ So far, have you gotten the important things you want in life?
Yes, everything I wanted before, I have now. Currently, I have new dreams and am enjoying the process of achieving them.
¡ If you could live your life over again, would you change anything, or almost nothing? Explain.
I wouldn’t change a thing. Every moment in my life, both good and bad, has led me to who I am today. I love who I am and who I am becoming.e to who I am today, and I love who I am and who I becoming
I never look happy and I never have fun. I like to be alone and some people feel bad for me but what makes me happy is being alone, doing homework, playing video games and watching shows. The happiest time of my life has been when I went to a resort because I don’t really go out a lot so it feels different there. During the pandemic i was even happier because i was at home and i could play video games all day and talk with my close friends, it was normal and i could be a child again. But I do really feel happy because I have my family who is always there for me and my close friends who are like 3 friends and I don’t want more than that. I’m just surrounded by family and I like it because I’m a calm person and like to be chill. My ideal life would be just having a nice house with my own room because right now I live with 5 family members and I share my room with my cousin and I would like to have my own room, something like that will just make me happier. The conditions of my life right now are better because I’m not just at home and doing the same thing everyday, now I’m in college studying and it doesnât feel like hard work because I really love it and I really like going because I like what iâm doing. I like my life and I could change something. It would be more social because even though I like being alone sometimes I want to have fun in public but I just sit down.