The World Happiness Report is consistently showing that people in wealthy countries are the happiest. However, recent research has shown that individual wealth is strongly correlated with life satisfaction. So, does this mean that the pursuit of greater wealth is necessary for happiness?
To explore this question further, I teamed up with an anthropologist to study the happiness levels of people in small-scale societies who have little need for money. Despite having very little income, the survey results showed that these individuals reported high levels of satisfaction with their lives. This challenges the notion that wealth is a prerequisite for happiness.
The study also highlighted the importance of social relationships and connection to nature in contributing to overall well-being. These factors are often overlooked in studies that focus solely on the correlation between money and happiness. This suggests that there are other significant factors at play when it comes to life satisfaction.
Furthermore, the survey methodology used in the World Happiness Report may skew results towards countries with higher income levels. The focus on income relative to others, rather than overall life satisfaction, may not provide a comprehensive picture of happiness levels across different societies.
For individuals living in industrialized countries, where money is essential for meeting basic needs, the findings of our study offer a different perspective. While financial stability is important, the pursuit of excessive wealth may not be necessary for leading a fulfilling life. By shifting focus towards building strong social connections and reconnecting with nature, people in wealthy countries may be able to improve their overall satisfaction with life.
In conclusion, the study suggests that the key to happiness may lie in fostering a sense of shared humanity and prioritizing human connections over material wealth. By learning from the successful features of small-scale societies, industrialized countries could potentially improve the well-being of their citizens while also working towards a more sustainable future for the planet.
