Forget The Resolutions

Gross National Happiness Index is where it's at.

Bhutan?officially known as the Kingdom of?Bhutan?is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas, located between China and India.?I’ve been ever so slightly obsessed with Bhutan, although I’ve not yet been there, ever since reading an article about this country a couple of years ago. It is a country that puts the happiness of its people before anything else, and in doing so, its country has thrived. What if, this New Year, instead of focusing on traditional resolutions, we instead focused on our own Gross National Happiness Index, Bhutan style.

An Interesting Little History on Bhutan:

Bhutan is best known for its philosophy of promoting Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product and productivity. The term Gross National Happiness was first coined by the fourth king of the Kingdom of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in the year 1972 when he said the following when asked about the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product.” Guided by its Gross National Happiness, Bhutan has considerably improved its economic, environmental, social, and governance situation in the past four decades.

When it comes to promoting happiness within the country, Bhutan focuses on four main pillars, nine domains, and thirty-three indicators. First, we will look at how the Gross National Happiness Index (GNH) has played an important role in Bhutan and then will look at how this same index could replace our traditional New Year’s Resolutions, leading to not just a happier, but also a more productive 2022.

How a Happiness Index Changed a Country:

Briefly, here is how the country’s focus on Gross National Happiness has impacted this tiny democratic nation and its people.

The Four Pillars:

1. Good Governance – In 2001, the King of Bhutan (the same king who had determined that Gross National Happiness was more important than Gross Domestic Product), began the process of drafting a constitution whereby he would voluntarily hand over power to his people. The people of the country protested as the king was beloved. However, the king realized that the future happiness of the tiny country would depend on the ability of the people to select their leader. The constitution led to the introduction of a parliamentary democracy with its first elections in 2008.
2. Sustainable Socio-economic Development – The Gross National Happiness Commission of Bhutan holds the important role of ensuring that all policies in the country pass a GNH stress test. They screen new government bills before they are submitted to the Cabinet. As such, important changes and adjustments are made to each bill before they are introduced to the Cabinet so that the happiness of the people is carefully considered and factored into all new policies, laws, and projects.
3. Cultural Preservation - Bhutan has over two dozen languages throughout the country. While celebrating this diversity with the many local?tsechus, or regional festivals, at a national level, the government strives to maintain a “national identity” by requiring officials to wear traditional dress to the workplace and speak Dzongkha as the national language. The emphasis on tradition and celebration of a unique culture is part of daily life. ?Interestingly, tourism is a vital component of their country, and as such, they believe that less is more when it comes to welcoming outsiders into their country. They don’t want millions flocking into their country each year, because too much of anything can hinder happiness. Therefore, Bhutan charges a travel tax to tourists who enter their country to the tune of $250 per day, a fee that travelers are happy to pay when truly interested in experiencing a country so focused on its culture and the happiness of its people.
4. Environmental Conservation - Bhutan’s constitution also includes unprecedented environmental measures, with such requirements as the necessity to preserve 62% of the country under forest cover at all times. Currently, it maintains a rate of about 72%. At the 2015 COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, Bhutan further announced its intention to remain carbon-neutral, ensuring that GHG emissions do not exceed the carbon sequestration capacity of its vast forests. Bhutan is also home to a diverse ecosystem, ranked among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest species density and recognized as a biodiversity hot spot. It also has the highest proportion of land in protected areas, with five national parks, four wildlife sanctuaries, and a nature reserve that covers more than 40% of the country.

What Bhutan Has to Do with You:

Now let’s look at the Nine Domains of Bhutan’s GNH Index and see how these could be used as a replacement for your New Year’s Resolutions.

1. Psychological Wellbeing – For the New Year, consider how you will promote and foster your own psychological wellbeing. In what ways will you put yourself first? Meditation, yoga, working out, reading. These things have the ability to promote your own happiness, and they also have the intended side effect of helping those around you. Happiness spreads and is very contagious. If you are happy, so too will you elevate the happiness of those around you.
2. Health – Workouts, walks, vitamin supplements, and doctor visits all promote your longevity and good energy. What will you do to incorporate health into your Happiness Index in 2022?
3. Education – Books, classes, podcasts. How will you elevate your knowledge in 2022?
4. Time Use – What does the thoughtful use of your time look like in 2022? Will you set aside time each week for friends, family, and yourself?
5. Cultural Diversity and Resilience – How will you celebrate your culture and embrace that of those around you?
6. Good Governance – The King of Bhutan turned his monarchy into a democracy for the good of the people. In the name of good governance, what will you give up for the good of those around you in 2022?
7. Community Vitality – Where will you donate time, sincere effort, and possibly money when necessary. In other words, how will you contribute to your community?
8. Ecological Diversity and Resilience – What will you do to positively impact the earth, the environment, and any or all living species?
9. Living Standards – What small changes can you make to improve your own living standards? Organize your home, your office, and the small places like drawers and closets that make up the big places all around you.

Here are some interesting lessons we can take away from the country of Bhutan this New Year.

First: By focusing on happiness over Gross Domestic Product (GNH instead of GDP), the country’s GDP goes up every year. Is it so astonishing that happy people produce more? HINT – if you want to do more business next year, focus on happiness.

Second: Happiness is not singular. When you are happy, you contribute to that of others, and when others are happy, they contribute to yours.

Third: Better choices lead to more. This is a tricky one so read closely. What’s your tourism tax? In an effort to preserve happiness, Bhutan charges that tourism tax. They do not want every tourist. They want the ones who appreciate their culture, their biodiversity, and their happiness. Thus, in preserving happiness, you may find that you can do less volume while earning more.

Most Important: ?A quote from John Lennon. "When I was 5 years old,?my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." As we glide into another New Year, instead of making lists of resolutions, wishes, or goals, may you instead focus on your overall mental and emotional state of happiness.

Wishing you more than just another New Year.?Wishing you a truly Happy one.