In the 1970’s the King of Bhutan decided that happiness was a more important measure of success than economic growth and gave birth to the idea of a Gross National Happiness Index. That concept has grown over the last few decades and Dr Saamdu Chetri is now the man in charge of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Centre. He says happiness is pretty easy to define.

Happiness is serving others, living in harmony with nature, and realising human values and wisdom.

The trick he says is to develop policies that foster a holistic balance between the materialistic and spiritual world. While the Bhutan Government constantly measures and monitors happiness on a national level, Dr Chetri says individuals also need to take responsibility for their own happiness. Here are just a few of his suggestions.

We need to let things go, we need to accept things as they are, we need to forgive others and forgive the self, have right intentions in our works, in our thoughts, in our deeds and actions, say sorry even if we are right, and thank you every moment.

Listen here to the lessons learned by Bhutan in developing its Gross National Happiness Centre.

About Our Guest:

Dr Saamdu Chetri is the Executive Director of the Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan.