I know, how do you even begin to assess this arbitrary idea of yourself without a way to really quantify what happiness is, or how 'much' of it you have in your life?

 

This is the task set out by Worldwide governments over the last few years, and has led to a 'Happiness Index', by which to rate how happy the inhabitants of a country are in any given year.

 

In 2011, the UK ranked 10th out of 27 EU countries according to the European Quality of Life Survey, with an average rating of 7.3 out of 10. Compare this with 6.9 in 2002 when records began, and perhaps surprisingly, 7.4 in 2010 (after an initial dip following the financial crisis, to 7 in 2008).

 

But what does it mean?

 

I've already drawn a correlation above to the financial crisis, but this initial loss of 'happiness' didn't last more than a year, so this would suggest that financial stability is only really a short-term factor.

 

Anxiety levels have also fallen by nearly 1%, as women continue to rate themselves more anxious than men, yet overall are found to have high life satisfaction ratings. Moreover, younger people are more 'happy' than the middle-aged, and retirees are reportedly a veritable happy-fest.

 

Whoever says married life is miserable is again out of touch with reality, as the happiness index for the wed or those living in a civil partnership is a whopping 7.8 out of 10.

 

So teenagers aren't the ones moping about, retirees aren't all set for euthanasia, and the parent's hell-bent on telling everyone to 'cheer up for God sake', are the most miserable of us all. This all leads to quite a confusing picture.

 

Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) adjudged to be responsible for personal well-being are health, employment situation and relationship status, so first let's examine those in a little more depth: -

Health: Mortality rates have fallen steadily over the same period from 130/100K in 2002, to 80/100K in 2013. Not dying is bound to cheer anyone up.

 

Employment: The employment and financial scenario still affecting the UK (and of course Europe as a whole) doesn't fall in-line with our upturn of smiles in 2012. It has been suggested the hosting of the Olympics during this year may have been a cause for this, but I doubt as a nation the joy of seeing so many gold medals offset our inability to pay our heating bills or splash out on a new designer wardrobe.

 

Relationship Status: Marriages are at an all-time low, with only around 17 of every 1,000 singletons getting married each year (compared to 24 in 2002). With the number of marriages dropping, what is compensating for it in our improving Happiness Index? If we all got married tomorrow, would the UK be all sunshine and rainbows?

 

I'm going to be presumptuous now and aim to shed some light on why people are as happy as they are, or not as the case may be.

 

Predisposition: They say we become our parents, and I think there is some validity to this when it comes to 'happiness'. It's not clear-cut but if you are genetically a high producer of the 'happy juice' in the brain called 'Serotonin', you have a better chance of being upbeat than someone with a shortage of this chemical.

 

If your parents always saw things as half empty, then you are also likely by environment to have picked up their pessimistic attitude. It's why when we are amongst a group of moaners (usually by the water cooler at work), we also have a good whinge. Being 'unhappy' is sadly infectious.

 

Expectations: Today's society has taught us all that anyone can be rich and successful. ANYONE. Regardless of talent, hard work, or a modicum of likeability, while there is Big Brother to win, the lotto, or TOWIE, why shouldn't YOU be the next big thing?

 

The flip-side of expecting so much is that you are disappointed when the reality falls some way short.

 

Social Interaction: We are now a race of social networking addicts. Why go out and see your friends face-to-face when you can just 'Facebook' to show your love? As Humans we are said to be happiest with 7 hugs a day. Not as emoticons, or 'likes', but REAL old-fashioned hugs.

I hope learning about happiness has made you happy. Now, please go hug someone!