In the book Happy as a Dane, Malene Rydahl shares some of the reasons the Danish consistently rank as the happiest people in the world.
There are, of course, signifiant institutional differences between Denmark and America. But the Danish “secrets of happiness” are, at their core, nothing more than perspectives – beliefs and thoughts – that happen to be shared by the overall culture. This is good news, because it means that we don’t have to wait for outside circumstances to change in order to feel happier and more content.
These are some key Danish beliefs that engender happiness:
- I have trust in people.
- I think for myself.
- I am self-sufficient.
- I am free to be who I want to be and choose the life I want to lead.
- I don’t use stereotypes to define gender.
- I am satisfied with simple things.
- I take life as it comes.
- I’m happier when everyone is happy.
- I enjoy everyday life, especially when shared with others.
- Work fits around my life, not the other way around.
- I don’t want more money than I need to get by.
- I don’t need to be the best.
There are people who would counter any one of these beliefs with the argument that “It’s easy for people who have an easy life to think that way.”
And yet, every single one of these beliefs has been wholeheartedly adopted by people who have absolutely no apparent reason to do so.
No matter who you are, where you came from, where you live, what your circumstances are or have been, you can think these thoughts that create happiness.
♥ Anna