by Selina Chapman, psychologist
Every year there is a World Happiness Report focussing on an aspect of happiness. The report is issued annually and compares any differences in happiness over time, considering global factors such as war and the Covid pandemic.
This year the focus is on how caring and sharing can affect happiness, quoting Shakespeare stating caring is “Twice blessed” from the play Merchant of Venice, meaning both the recipient and the giver benefit from caring and sharing.
This can be interpreted differently if you spend any amount of time with toddlers, however globally speaking we can all gain from meaningful social connections, and community–based choices that have a clear positive impact.
Countries achieve a global ranking based on how individuals have rated their own “life evaluations”, a scale out of 10 with 10 being the highest ranking. Life evaluations comprise of questions relating to quality of life, rather than emotion–based responses as being “positive or negative”.
In the 2025 report, 147 countries were ranked, typically with Nordic countries consistently ranked in the top 10. Australia was ranked at number 11. Since the rankings began, we have learnt that happiness changes over time and is categorised via areas such as social support, freedom to make like choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. So, what contributes to happiness?
The report specifies that sharing meals, living with others, maintaining positive social connections, living in a society that supports each other, knowing who and what we can trust and how we give to others financially increases or reduces our happiness scales.
Looking at this further, I wanted to explore how culture, in its base definition of how we interact psychologically–socially and biologically with our environment, and the people in it, plays its role in happiness. What do the Nordic countries do that works so well and what can we learn from them? What can other cultures and philosophies teach us?
To be completely transparent, this article cannot contain all the information research has discovered about the complex nature of culture, however we can always learn something and share that with others, “paying it forward” for the betterment of us all.
Hygge, pronounced hoo–gah, is according to Denmark.dk is “hard to pronounce [and] difficult to explain”. It’s about social connections, enjoying each other’s company with no set plan apart from being with each other, unwinding, celebrating the small moments and taking it slow, maybe talk deeply, or reflect upon the world in solitude.
Social connections, in any shape that works for us, can make us who we are, helping establish our sense of self, and how we may build, nurture and navigate relationships. This is most significant during adolescence. A study on gratitude and students by Bono and Froh (2009), included a quote from a student participant who wrote “My life wouldn’t be the same without the people that have shaped and molded my character … I think it is important to be humble, let go of all ideas of self–importance and acknowledge the people that helped you get where you are”.
Supportive social connections are a fundamental need that can break or make us. Traditional cultural living relies on community interactions that benefit the group as a whole rather than putting any one individual above others, to the degree that groups simply cannot exist without meaningful social interactions, social support and a sense of belonging.
Bono and Froh, 2009, found that gratitude can boost mood, strengthen social ties, and cultivate a sense of purpose, all aspects of which are included in the World Happiness study.
Gratitude can be expressed in many ways, fostering bonds and creating happier communities. How can we embrace gratitude, experience hygge and become happier?
Studies and evidence–based practise have not exhausted all possibilities; however, we have many options. As always, the most beneficial solutions to any of our challenges must come from within ourselves and have relevance and meaning to our own values and self–identity.
At a time of global uncertainty and flux, we can feel that there is too much that is out of our control. This can leave us feeling overwhelmed, lost, and sad. The World Happiness report details how positive social behaviours and connections can reduce feelings of despair.
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” – Mahatma Gandhi.
Mindfulness, valuing ourselves, warts and all, and adjusting the areas we want to be different, can open the space and opportunity for meaningful change and happiness.
A useful and Australian resource is the Action for Happiness movement. Every month has a free calendar to download and share for kind, positive and self–care–based actions to complete daily. You can find them at Happier Kinder Together | Action for Happiness. actionforhappiness.org
Take Care, Selina
Selina Chapman is a psychologist at The Heart and Mind Collective in North Gosford. She works with individuals of all ages seeking empowerment and support. Selina says, “Seeking support for mental health is about maintaining emotional and mental wellbeing as well as having extra help as and when we need it”.