We worked with a certain group on curtailing malnutrition and realised that even if necessary nutrition was provided that the expected weight gain of children was inhibited. This made us realize that there could be other factors which were affecting physical well-being of the children
Usually after the passing of yet another year, we tend to ponder on what we have achieved, the dreams we were able or unable to realise, our aspirations and hopes. The end of the year is propagated as a season of joy, conditioning us to believe that we should be joyous no matter what. However, it is questionable whether we are equipped to accurately know or measure ‘joy’ or ‘happiness’. We make resolutions assuming that reaching those goals might make us happier.
I recall the clay ‘tills’ given to collect coins when I was very young. The till could be broken or opened only when it was full to the brim with coins. The money could be used to buy a ‘treat’: a non-essential item that my parents would not normally buy for me. I think most parents intend to inculcate the value of saving money by getting their children ‘piggy banks’ or ‘tills’. As a child, I learnt to equate this money collecting habit to happiness.
If I could collect and buy something I liked, I thought I would be happy. Money or material possessions therefore became a significant denominator of happiness. Decades later, standing at the precipice of 2023, I am compelled to wonder whether happiness could be measured by the amount of coins scattered when a clay till was smashed.
Could happiness be measured? If so, how? Availability of information bombards us with diverse answers: philosophical, spiritual, at times scientific. Some pop up uninvited on social media platforms. The task of finding valid answers is a challenging one. As I have vague idea that well-being is used as a yardstick for Health Promotion, and also because I know that the only university department to teach Health Promotion in South Asia is in the Rajarata University, Sri Lanka, to seek a scientifically acceptable answer, I approached Professor Duminda Guruge of the Faculty of Health Promotion, Rajarata University.
Prof. Guruge initiated his explanation by saying, “The yardstick to measure Health Promotion is well-being which could be classified into physical, psychological, social and spiritual. ‘Happiness’ is the major component of psychological well-being. Although it is difficult to objectively measure ‘happiness’ it could be subjectively measured. It is this principle that countries such as Bhutan and many other countries have adopted for their Happiness Index. The term Gross National Happiness was first coined in Bhutan in 1972 and since then has influenced Bhutan’s economic and social policies. The importance given to happiness has affected policy making of other nations around the world.”
According to Prof. Guruge, we need to ask ourselves certain questions to determine whether we are truly happy as happiness could be easily mistaken for instant gratification. Potent questions to ask one self would be “Is my life meaningful? Are my thoughts, actions, words meaningful? Is this moment in my life actually a happy one? Should I risk missing even one moment of happiness?” To address and to respond to these questions one needs to expand and develop certain aspects of life such as:
* a variety of interests, * the ability to handle stress, * self esteem, * ability to make decisions, * creativity and * aesthetic appreciation
Tribal ritual
Prof Guruge said, “We should ensure that it is not the number of days that we breathe that we need to increase, but the number of days that we actually ‘live’ life. There is a story of a tribal community which practised a certain ritual to ascertain the level of happiness of a person’s life. Apparently as a rite of passage, when a tribal member reached a certain age, a pot would be given and they would be required to put in a small stone on each day that they felt they were happy.
When a person dies the tribal community would break the pot and count the stones to calculate the number of days the person had been happy throughout his/her life and therefore, determine how happy his/her life had been. “
According to Prof. Guruge it is this tribal method that had inspired the Rajarata University, Department of Health Promotion to develop methodology to measure happiness in the communities. They had innovated a simple technique which could be adopted by the community members in their day-to-day lives. “We usually refrain from ‘teaching’ communities or individuals. On the contrary we encourage them to research and implement methods which suit their authentic needs.
We worked with a certain group on curtailing malnutrition and realised that even if necessary nutrition was provided that the expected weight gain of children was inhibited. This made us realize that there could be other factors which were affecting physical well-being of the children and one very significant factor was the happiness of their mothers. This is how the concept of the ‘Happiness Calendar’ was conceived. The mothers used old calendars to mark the level of happiness of each family member on a daily basis. At the end of one month it was evident how the happiness levels fluctuate throughout the family setting.”
Prof. Guruge further elaborated that since then this method had evolved to reveal indicators that determined happiness of individuals and families. “Although there were certain family members who were averse to this activity, once the children of the family took over the activity of marking, even those who were averse were compelled to accept the activity as a necessity. There were very important outcomes which were very visible such as the opportunity to: * express emotions which were otherwise suppressed or neglected, * introspect and develop self awareness, * probe the forces which caused unhappiness: whether they were internal or external causes, * regain self esteem and power equality within the family set up which caused a decrease in stress levels of the children.
Prof. Guruge stated it was very evident that decrease in stress levels of the children caused an increase in physical well-being, educational performance, healthy family relationships and harmony. Although there are varied other methods which could be used for uplifting well-being, the ‘Happiness Calendar’ is unique as it cannot be and need not be bought or sold. One does not need to invest money or an exorbitant amount of time to implement this technique.
“Though we do not realise, we are conditioned to feel apathy and lack of control over our own lives. A simple method such as this allows us to have a sense of control which is imperative when it comes to ensuring well-being. This is not the false sense of control that we are taught to feel by pursuing wealth, power or fame. This addresses the happiness which stems from the core of our being.
We gain wisdom to ‘see through’ forces which control us and eventually question and manage those forces which rob us of well-being and happiness. A good example is how the ‘Happiness Calendar’ revealed to the family members as to how a significant component of hard earned money was syphoned by unhealthy, damaging habits and practices such as the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. That realisation itself is ‘Power’. This method could be expanded beyond the family unit to the whole community or the village and even workplaces.” Prof. Duminda Guruge concluded.
At the end of a conversation which took place at the threshold of a brand new year, I felt an immense sense of fulfilment and hope. As with those tribal people who possessed ancient wisdom, I resolved to start 2024 with a ‘till of happiness’ which would enable me or my loved ones to measure how happy I would be by the end of the coming year. Along with varied missions, visions and goals I set up for myself, a ‘ Happiness Calendar’ would be marked to determine the extent of the greatest endeavour of all: The Pursuit of Happiness.
