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#245: What Is Your Happiness Rating?

Monday, March 01, 2010

If we were to grade our general happiness level on a scale of 0-100, what would yours be? emoticon- emoticon

Mine would likely rate 70-80 with occasional dips to 40 and surges to 90 or 95.

According to a World Values Survey by the University of Michigan Institute of Social research, between 1981 and 2007, happiness and general life satisfaction has risen substantially in 40 of 52 countries tracked.

Most notable countries for rising happiness and well-being are India, Ireland, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South Korea, with recent spikes in ex-communist countries as well as Nigeria and Turkey. The U.S. ranked 16th.

The happiest nation? Denmark.

This is all fine for countries as a whole but what if such a study was conducted on us individually? Where would we rank?

Sure, day-to-day financial and other problems take their toll on our moods. But do everyday events need to diminish our overall happiness? Haven't we all read of people in the direst of circumstances who were genuinely happy with their lot in life?

So, what about you? How would you rate your overall happiness? If you're not satisfied with your level of happiness, what can you do to improve it?
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Member Comments About This Blog Post
  • SINGLEMOM1960
    I'm usually around 60-75. But on my bad days, when I'm in pain, then my level drops deep into the 20s or 10s. Even though I know it's an outside factor affecting me, my level is low.
    4014 days ago
  • SPARKLOVE
    I have learned to be happy in spite of my circumstances - I become most troubled when I am trying to make a decision and I am not sure what to do .....once I can get over that hump I can be happy again even if my decision leads me though troubled water.
    4016 days ago
  • GEODAWG
    My level of happiness is the best it has been. Probably an 8 or 9 with surges up to 10 frequently. I have a wonderful husband, I am retired from a stress-filled job, I am healthy as two dozen horses and for once, my children are all safe and content. Who could ask for any thing more?
    4017 days ago
  • no profile photo CD2833646
    At the moment, I think it has been about a 40 today, but is now higher, because my husband is able to help me now!
    4017 days ago
  • DIAMONDS_PEARLS
    My happiness rating has increased steadily over my lifetime. I am healthier, happier and better adjusted than ever before. There will always be things that prevent a perfect happiness but on the whole I would say I have a 90 to 95% happiness rating. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
    4017 days ago
  • no profile photo CD4114015
    I have to agree with ALLIE...Jesus, my Lord and Savior, has my rating for myself 85-95% MOST of the time. Can't really think of a time in the past 2 years (since I began my health journey with the Lord's help) that I could say I was below 85. Reading the Bible will always lift the spirit and staying in the Word keeps all in perspective.
    Great blog, as usual, Lou.
    Gaye
    4017 days ago
  • MACMOM57
    I would say mine is like yours Lou with dips and highs. But most of the time I'm at 85 90 takes a lot to make me unhappy.
    4017 days ago
  • TEDYBEAR2838
    Probably 80. We can't be ecstatically happy all the time or down in the dumps all the time. I think we need to be somewhere in between.

    Just my humble opinion :) But it's great to realize how we feel about this
    4017 days ago
  • BUSSMOM
    I would have to say that I am generally a happy person. I believe that you can choose to be happy or you can choose to live in misery. Being happy is so much more fun and I really like having fun.

    So there you go. That is the way I am.

    Good things to think about.

    -Maribeth
    4017 days ago
  • MOMMA_LITTLE
    Ah, Lou, this time last year, it would have been a 4.

    At this time, I'd say an overall 8.

    It was good to look at this! Things are definitely looking up!
    4017 days ago
  • YATMAMA
    I have some thoughts about why Denmark is ranked first that are better left unshared. For myself? I find that I am far happier with my life (about 90%) than I am with myself (far less, maybe 50% or 55%). I am not sure why that's the case, either. I'll have to think about this. Another insightful blog. Thank you!!
    4017 days ago
  • GIBBLES5
    Most of the time it is pretty low, maybe 40 -50, some highs and some lows. I am trying to figure out how to create my own happiness... I'll let you know how it goes.
    4017 days ago
  • no profile photo CD6293043
    My general happiness rating skyrocketed about 2 years ago when I discovered that which was missing from my life... a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I attended a program called Celebrate Recovery which helped me turn my past hurts over to God, I have forgiven everyone from my past who has hurt me (and there were lots of them) and I now keep a very short account with people. I forgive immediately and am getting better at asking for forgiveness quickly. It makes an amazing difference. I just keep remembering that "I forgive because I have been forgiven" and it makes me so much happier... most days I am probably closing in on 80-85... I see 90-95 some days and very rarely would I ever fall below 70... Thanks be to God!
    4017 days ago

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