The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World's Happiest People (The Happiness Institute Series)

by Meik Wiking

What do happy people have in common?

To me, it is unsurprising that a peaceful country where there is free and universal health care, where your kids can go to university no matter how much money you earn, and where little girls can imagine themselves prime minister should be one of the happiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Reports commissioned by the United Nations.

eudaemonia.

The capacity of fire and food to bring people together is almost universal across cultures and geographical borders.

That our wealth is not measured by the size of our bank accounts but by the strength of our bonds, the health of our loved ones, and the level of our gratitude. That happiness does not come from owning a bigger car but from knowing that we are part of something bigger—part of a community—and that we are all in this together.

It’s all about knowing that happiness does not come from owning a bigger car but from knowing that everybody you know and love will be supported in their time of need. What works well in the Nordic countries is an understanding of the link between the good life and the common good. We are not paying taxes; we are purchasing

quality of life. We are investing in our community.

Scrabble in Denmark is considered an extreme sport and is the number-one cause of wrist injuries.

We are drawn in by the illusion of connection without the demands of intimacy,

And the US is a key example when it comes to looking at how we have failed to transform wealth into well-being. While the US has achieved economic progress and an accumulation of wealth over the past half century, this has not resulted in an increase in happiness for the people. One of the reasons for this is inequality. If a country doubles in wealth but 90 percent of that wealth goes to the richest 10 percent, that is not growth. That is greed.

decouple wealth from well-being for the individual.

As a happiness researcher, I cannot see a more obvious policy to improve quality of life than that of providing universal health care.

“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transport. It is where the rich walk and where they use bikes.

build movement into your daily routine.

Shinrin-yoku literally translates to “forest bathing,” or taking in the atmosphere of the forest, and refers to soaking up the sights, smells, and sounds of a natural setting to promote physiological and psychological health. The term was first coined in 1982 but, today, millions of Japanese walk along forty-eight “forest therapy” trails, to get their dose of what I guess could be labeled “outdoorphins.”

This study provides new evidence on links between nature and well-being, strengthening existing evidence of a positive relationship between happiness and exposure to green or natural environments in our lives.

“Hell is other people.”

Helping people, listening to their stories, and getting involved in their hopes and dreams and struggles bring both sorrow and satisfaction. When we get to know people, we start to care more. We take part in their victories—and share their defeats. Life is messy, and relationships are hard. The outcome of helping may be a mixed bag. Getting involved also means that we can get hurt from time to time.