Pursuit of Happiness

Just a few day ago, I saw a sign placed outside the restaurant states "Help Yourself to Happiness". Wouldn't it be nice if Singaporeans can get their helping of salads, fries and meat all that was needed to provide happiness?

Singaporeans are the least Happy: Poll
So apparently we’re not just “emotionless”, we’re the world’s unhappiest lot as well.

We’re not sure if that sounds contradicting to you but the latest readings from a Gallup survey – the same one that recently labelled Singapore “the most emotionless society” – have sadly suggested so – that Singaporeans are also “least likely worldwide to report feeling positive emotions”.

People here were less “upbeat” than those living in war-torn places like Iraq, Armenia and Afghanistan, Gallup suggested, based on a poll of 1000 respondents in each of 148 countries.

Nearly 150,000 respondents were posed five questions on whether they experienced a lot of enjoyment the day before the survey and whether they felt respected, well-rested, laughed and smiled a lot, and did or learned something interesting. While about 50 per cent of people in Armenia and Iraq did, only 46 per cent of Singaporeans could say the same.

Singapore came in first, ahead of Armenia, Iraq, Georgia, Yemen and Serbia, for being the least positive.

This led Gallup partner Joe Clifton to suggest that “higher income does not necessarily mean higher wellbeing,” given Singapore’s poor faring even though it ranks fifth in the world in terms of GDP per capita.

“Leaders who are looking for ways to further improve the human condition in their countries -- especially those societies such as Singapore that are doing well on traditional economic indicators, but not necessarily behavioral metrics -- need to do more to incorporate wellbeing into their leadership strategies,” Clifton advised.

On the other end, Latin Americans are the world's happiest people, with their region being home to eight of the top 10 countries for positive emotions worldwide. Panama and Paraguay came in top two in the survey, while Thailand and Philippines ranked at sixth and eighth respectively.


Our pursuit of Happiness may involve food or a host of other things but in the end, Happiness continues to escape our grasp.

Why?

In general, it is because these things we tend to pursue do not really touch the deepest needs of our hearts.

These pursuits provide moments of enjoyment, distractions or pleasure but the cry of our hearts goes unheard (where is the real help and hope). "Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." Psalm 146:5

Father, draw me to You and remind me that only in You I can really enjoy Happiness and Satisfaction my heart longs for. Help me to look beyond the surface things of life to what really matters.