Elusive Happiness

As 2019, winds down, Americans find happiness elusive. According to a World Happiness Report for the United Nations, the United States is only the 19th happiest country in the world. The good news is that is 19 out of 156 countries. I am glad we are happier than the folks in South Sudan (#156). It’s disturbing that we aren’t as happy as Canadians (#9), Brits (#15)or even Germans (#17). 

I’m a bit suspicious that the “happiest” countries tend to be Scandinavian: 1. Finland  2. Denmark  3. Norway  4. Iceland 5. Netherlands 6. Switzerland  7. Sweden 8. New Zealand. Those countries are mostly cold and snowy. That doesn’t seem right. They don’t have real football, holidays like Thanksgiving or hot dogs.  Even more disturbing is that these “happy” places tend to be non-christian and even non-spiritual. 

The World Happiness Report is more than mere statistics. There are some articles setting forth reasons for the listing. There are some interesting findings:

The politically active are happier. Happier people are more likely to engage in politics and vote. 

The generous are happier. There is a robust association between donating time and well-being and evidence suggests that using money to benefit others leads to happiness.

More money doesn’t mean more happiness. One article focused on the unhappy state of happiness in America. The years since 2010 have not been good ones for happiness and well-being among Americans. Even as the United States economy improved after the end of the Great Recession in 2009, happiness among adults did not rebound to the higher levels of the 1990s, continuing a slow decline ongoing since at least 2000. 

Less social interaction means less happiness. Over the last decade, the amount of time spent on-screen activities (especially digital media such as gaming, social media, texting, and time online) has steadily increased, accelerating after 2012 after the majority of Americans owned smartphones.  The way we socialize has fundamentally shifted, moving toward online activities and away from face-to-face social interaction. Other activities that typically do not involve screens have also declined.

Does less social interaction mean more addiction? We are in an increasing flood of addiction:  Marijuana: 7% of 18-year-olds, 2% of 50-year olds • Illicit drugs, non-marijuana: 8% of 18-year-olds, 5% of 50-year-olds • Tobacco: 15% of U.S. adult population • Alcohol: 10% for older teenagers and adults • Food addiction: 10% of U.S. adult population (= 25% of obese population) • Gambling: 1-3% of U.S. adult population • Internet: 2% of U.S. adult population • Exercise: 3-5% of U.S. adult population (22-26% of college youth) • Workaholism: 10% of U.S. adult population • Shopping addiction: 6% of U.S. adult population • Love and sex addiction: 3-6% of adult population.

A loneliness epidemic. In the last 50 years, rates of loneliness have doubled in the United States. In a survey of over 20,000 American adults, it was found that almost half of respondents reported feeling alone, left out, and isolated. Further, one in four Americans shared that they rarely feel understood, and one in five people believe they rarely or never feel not close to people. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-mentality/201807/what-you-need-know-about-the-loneliness-epidemic

So if we want to be happier, what should we do? Perhaps move to a colder, snowier climate. Short of that, the answer seems to be to become involved with others in things that matter. Notice that the politically active are happier. They unite with others in doing something to advance an agenda they believe is important. The generous are happier because they become involved with others who have needs and make a difference. If we don’t find happiness in involved community activity, we tend to substitute addiction to any number of things. 

Are Christians happier?  There have been many contradictory studies on the question of whether Christians (or “religious folks”) are happier than others. I think these studies are asking the wrong questions. It’s not about what you believe. It’s about what you do. I find that those who join with other believers in the following of Jesus are the happiest people I know. Churches need to learn this. It’s great to provide nice facilities, inspiring worship,  good sermons and fellowship. But if you are looking for happy active members provide opportunity for joining with others in making a difference.

The cure for loneliness isn’t just being with other people, it’s working with others on something that’s important. 

It’s important to use tools like social media to communicate with our people, but it’s more important that the communication unites members in mission and facilitates action and not just info. Members like to know that their church is doing something, but the real satisfaction comes in the doing. 

Are Christians happier? The involved and active ones most certainly are. It’s certainly what Jesus called for.