So there’s this study, right? It’s called the Global Flourishing Study. And it’s all about figuring out which countries are the best for people to live in. Not just in terms of being happy, but in terms of like, living their best lives overall.
The researchers from Harvard University did this big survey with over 200,000 people from 22 countries all over the world. And guess what? Indonesia came out on top as the country where people are flourishing the most. Who would’ve thought, right?
But it’s not just about being all happy and healthy. The researchers looked at all aspects of people’s lives, like their relationships, their mental and physical health, their sense of purpose, and even their financial stability. Turns out, Indonesia may not be the richest country, but they sure know how to build strong relationships and have great community connections.
On the other hand, Japan didn’t fare so well in the study. Despite being a wealthy country where people live a long time, they ranked at the bottom when it comes to having close friends. It’s like, you can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have good friends, what’s the point, right?
The US, on the other hand, landed at number 12 on the list. Not too shabby, but not the best either. It seems like as people get older, they tend to flourish more in the US, unlike in other countries where happiness dips in middle age. And participating in group activities, like going to church, can really boost your sense of flourishing.
It’s interesting to see that the high-income countries didn’t dominate the top spots in the study. Israel and Poland were the only wealthy countries that made it to the top half of the list. Turns out, having strong friendships, marriages, and community involvement is more important for flourishing than having a fat bank account.
The researchers behind the study are calling for a balance between economic development and personal well-being. They want us to think about what really matters in life and how we can live happier lives. Maybe it’s time to rethink our priorities and focus on building meaningful relationships and finding our sense of purpose. Who knows, maybe that’s the key to true happiness after all.
