GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS

I was channel surfing the other night and ran across a program about Bhutan.


Bhutan? Where's that? I've never heard of it.

I've learned that it is a tiny country, nestled in the Himalayans.

I've learned that it is primarily Buddhist.

I've learned that it has beautiful geography.

But the most amazing thing I learned is that the new, democratic government of this little spot on the planet actually tracks what they call GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS.

Believing that it is neither military nor financial power which determines the well-being of a people or a nation, this country seems to be all about achieving a high level of happiness in its' population.

What a concept!

They actually do a census to determine the 'happiness level' of Bhutanese people.

You can read about this unique concept and see the questionnaire used in the census here.

http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/Default.aspx

Bhutan is not a wealthy country. It isn't even very literate. And further internet research will reveal that there are numerous and very serious societal problems in the country.

Nevertheless, I am intrigued by the whole idea of Gross National Happiness and opposed to Gross National Product.

More and more, I am coming to believe that in each and every moment of our lives, we should be reaching for real wealth...and that is joy.

We should know what gives us true joy...and do it, as often as possible.

We should stop looking for happiness from another person and give it to our own selves.

My friend, Donna, recently watched a movie in which several couples were on a beautiful, tropical island. The women all wanted the men to take them to a particular waterfall. The men were interested in other pursuits and kept putting off the trip to the waterfall. Eventually, one of the women declared, "I'm taking my self to the waterfall!" Of course, then the other women went with her.

The truth is, that we all, eventually, have to take our own selves to the 'waterfall'.

Waiting for someone else to give us happiness...well....it's gonna be a really long wait, I've learned.

We must make our own.

How do we do that?

I think it might have something to do with being grateful. When we are feeling grateful, we are feeling joy. When we are consciously grateful, we are more aware of beauty around us...which, of course, gives us joy. But also, I think it's important to know ourselves well enough to identify things which generate joy within us.

What can I do today to cause joy in my soul?

Let me be aware of what that might be.

Let me pursue it.

Let me be grateful for it.