happiness and freedom

It seems appropriate on Memorial Day to continue the conversation on ‘freedom’ (because ultimately whether you want to debate it or not we are memorializing the efforts of the people who have put their lives on the line for ‘freedom of’ protection globally).

I imagine this is part two of “freedom of” if only because it follows up the burden of responsibility that comes along with having ‘freedom of’ by recognizing, that despite the burden of that responsibility, people who live in cultures with freedom tend to be happier people.

I do follow this thought with some facts (some research) but let me suggest subjectively that the concept doesn’t surprise me.

Mainly because I believe when people are involved I choices being made or decisions or even voicing opinions they feel more involved (and are proportionately happier). That doesn’t mean there is a massive risk of unhappiness if there is constant involvement in choice and decision by the ‘common people’ and constant rebuffed in final decision by “leader people.”

(and Americas current divisiveness and splinter vocal groups is an example of such)

But, in general, people are happier if they feel like their voice matters (and being able to vocalize or have freedom of choice is one way of ‘mattering’).

So. The research.

It figures that I find a piece of research and an awesome graph (with lots of little data points) and I cannot remember who did the research (so I apologize to that person/team).

By the way. I don’t want to suggest these findings refute past evidence that genetic factors play an important role in subjective well-being (that has been proven before).

However, these findings indicate genetic factors are only part of the story because happiness levels vary cross-culturally.

Since cultures are constructed by human beings (and therefore human nature), this suggests that the pursuit of happiness is not completely futile. Genes may play a crucial role, but beliefs and values also are important. The research findings also indicate that varying levels of well-being are closely linked with a society’s political institutions. In other words sharp declines in a society’s level of well-being can lead to the collapse of the social and political system and conversely high levels of well-being contribute to the survival and flourishing of the social and political system (it just so happens that democratic institutions flourish more often than collapse).

So. Through this research they have discovered (in their words … “we now know”) that a nation’s past communism, economic development, and freedom are closely related to well being, and that freedom has the highest correlation with well being suggests that it is the strongest factor.

And well being translates to happiness.

Hey. This is kind of like if A plus B = C then  … well  … okay … whatever.

So.

Just another reason to support freedom of.

We will be happier.

Just in case you need to have it spelled out … being happy is better than being sad.

Anyway.

If freedom contributes to happiness, well, you can’t beat that.

Up with freedom.