ASAP Happiness

The 2018 UN World Happiness Report ranks Sweden as the 9th happiest country on earth. Why? With a grin, the mayor of the town where I spoke last week summarized it in two words: “lätt liv.” Translation? Easy life.

An official holiday, the International Day of Happiness marks the UN’s dedication to growing global happiness through peaceful resolutions, eco-friendly initiatives and increasing worldwide well-being.

There are two basic ways to increase our energy: we can build our stamina through sleep and exercise, or temporarily boost ourselves with stimulants like caffeine.

Imagine preparing a cake with the finest vanilla, oil, eggs and cocoa money can buy. You proudly pop it in the oven, but out comes a flat, deflated mess. You forgot the baking soda.

As kids, upon discovering French fries, we may have thought, man, I could eat these all day! But somebody, likely our parents, stepped in to remind us that a healthy body requires balance and to eat our chicken and veggies.

Researchers at Harvard followed 268 men over the course of their lives from the 1930’s to old age. Their 72-year study of happiness led to the conclusion that the #1 indicator of our happiness is our relationships.

For decades, scientists believed 100 percent of our happiness was determined at birth. Now they believe genetics only account for half. Where’s the rest?

For the most part, this past Sunday’s humble acceptance speeches left me with even more respect for the tremendously accomplished actors and visionaries onstage.

According to the UN World Happiness Report, Denmark is the happiest country in the world. Danes place high value on social connectedness, humility and health; but how do they stay chipper when winter comes?

Imagine you had an assistant who followed you around everywhere. She’d sit with you as you spoke with friends, clients and loved ones, and anytime anyone outside of the room wanted your attention, she’d loudly interrupt. How quickly would you fire this person?

The seemingly innocuous Cheeto, in the words of food scientist Steven Witherly, “is one of the most marvelously constructed foods on the planet … in terms of pure pleasure.”

Ever come home from work feeling just too drained to accomplish anything beyond browsing Netflix? You’re not physically exhausted, so it’s hard to explain your sapped state to friends and SOs, but you just want to become one with the couch.

“Facebook makes you miserable…” “10 Reasons Why You Should Quit Facebook.” The media loves to slam social media, citing how it creates jealousy, depression, and even holistically lowers our happiness by 39%.

If food is our fuel, water is our oil, keeping everything lubricated and operating smoothly. While doctors tell us to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, most of us just grab a cup when we’re thirsty.

In 2015 alone, sales of adult coloring books went from 1 million to 12 million. Why the sudden craze, especially among millennial women?

My happiness studies once brought me to a Buddhist monastery, where due to my height and leather jacket, the monks dubbed me “Brother Terminator.”

In the West we’re always walking with a purpose, whether it’s to arrive somewhere or shed our love handles. Our two speeds are essentially “stop” and “go.”