31 Jan This Is One of the Top Happiness Secrets From Denmark—One of the Happiest Countries in the World
In my latest Audible Original, Habits for Greatness (HERE), I summarise and share 30 great lessons from great people and movements, lessons that all, in one way or other, can be used to enjoy more happiness.
It would also be interesting to create a similar version, focusing instead on lessons from other countries and other cultures. Because we know different cultures perceive happiness differently and also, that we can all learn from each other.
This great article by Natalie Arroyo Camacho from the Well & Good site does just a little of this, sharing a great lesson from the great country that is Denmark …
Denmark is often regarded as one of the happiest countries in the world, so it only makes sense for all folks to look to the Danes for tips surrounding mood boosts. There are, of course, myriad factors that contribute to Denmark having increased happiness, but even so, we might all benefit from learning the country’s top happiness secret. And according to Helen Russell, a global happiness expert and author of The Year of Living Danishly and The Atlas of Happiness, it’s trust.
“I grew up with the full force of the ‘stranger danger’ campaign—we were taught to trust less as kids,” says Russell, who grew up in the United Kingdom and is now living in Denmark. In Denmark, Russell adds, “trust has always been high…kids are taught to trust, that the world is an essentially good place and most people are not out to get them—which is liberating.” Needless to say, this outlook goes opposite to the “life’s not fair” trope that’s popular in many areas of the world, and thus, can be a mindset many could adopt to increase happiness.
When Russell moved to Denmark, she immediately noticed that her new neighbors “looked more relaxed and healthier. They walked more slowly. They took their time to stop and eat together, or talk, or just breathe,” she says. This perceived sense of relaxedness may be a result of the Danish government providing extensive parental leave, the reality that Danish folks spend a lot of time outdoors, and also that they prioritize connecting with the people in their lives, says Russell.
“Trusting makes you feel more secure and saves unnecessary stress. Trusting people around you can make them behave better, so trust becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.” —Helen Russell, global happiness expert
However, trust is the top Danish happiness happiness secret because, regardless of national policies and the like, anyone can start working toward attaining it—meaning, no one needs to hope for systemic changes as a prerequisite. Rather, people can start making changes in their own lives. “Trusting makes you feel more secure and saves unnecessary stress,” says Russell. “And trusting the people around you can make them behave better, so trust becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
… keep reading the full & original article HERE