Recent studies are revealing an important reason why happiness is so important to us all. A growing body of research is demonstrating that as we become happier, we become better people. As we become happier we become more compassionate, more creative, more energetic, more financially successful, more emotionally and physically healthy, etc. Thus for those of us who are more concerned with creating a "better" world than a happier world, becoming much happier and helping others become much happier may prove a very effective means to this end. Imagine for a moment the reduction in incidents of crime in the United States if we as a country were to raise of national average happiness level from its present marginal 69 percent to 85 percent or higher.
We share our lives with loved ones like our spouse, parents, children, and friends. Why is happiness so important? What better gift can we give a loved one than to help them become happy, remain happy, or become happier? What better gift than happiness could we receive from our loved ones? It is important to understand this essential point so that we and our loved ones do not become separated or distracted from our happiness. As parents, for example, it is wise to teach our children to be good for their sake and for the sake of others. If, however, we neglect to teach our children how to be very happy, we are depriving them of their greatest need and desire.
Happiness is not only important to our personal and societal lives, it is important to our global community. Unhappiness breeds wars and terrorism. Countries who unjustly attack other countries are doing so because they are not happy with certain international realities. Terrorists who attack individuals and populations are deeply dissatisfied with various social, political, religious and/or economic realities. Very happy countries would not wage unjust wars. Very happy individuals would not commit acts of terror.
Why is happiness so important? As individuals and as societies, happiness is both our highest goal and an extremely effective means of achieving many of our other cherished goals. Both as individuals and as a planet, happiness is our ultimate reason for living. Happiness is really all there is and all there ever will be; all else is only a means to happiness.
