Happiness in Bhutan

Living in a remote village, where the people never saw a cell phone until 2003, may seem bleak to you. But in the kingdom of Bhutan, an area with 750,000 people and not one traffic light, they view the world differently. With the creation of the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNH), leader Karma Tshiteem and his team hope to prove that the people of Bhutan can successfully ride the change wave through their first democratic election.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, creator of GNH said happiness “can be found in a life that incorporates cultural traditions and respects the natural world.” With that in mind, the Bhutan people have been surveyed to find out what makes them happy and sad. Measuring the way the people feel through out these changes will help the GNH Commission connect how the individual’s well-being affects the mood of a nation.

Tshiteem will aide the economy’s growth, as it becomes a democratic state with its first election held today. The GNH aims to find not just numbers, but ideas that can help the people of Bhutan stay happy, while also preserving the environment and culture. Talk about some great, big dreams! [Wall Street Journal]