Are You Actually Happy?

Did you know a data group exists to measure happiness?

Though it has been stated happiness is difficult to record, the data group has found other ways to track and measure happiness. For those of us in modern countries, filled to the brim with technology and access to research, google, and more answers than we could ever need. I find it particularly amusing for there to be a World Happiness Report.

The Problem of Tracking Global Emotions

The issue with tracking happiness or sadness, or even motivation is these terms are what I define as fluid terms. They are based on emotion which is an ever-changing force within the body. Much like water is fluid. How can you track the temperament of the ocean?

Tracking one person’s emotions through a survey means that data is dated for that moment and time specifically. Enhanced to the large scale of our globe, these measurements can become very misleading.

The World Survey collects data from a series of representative national surveys covering almost 100 countries, with the earliest estimates dating back to 1981. In these surveys, respondents are asked: “Taking all things together, would you say you are (i) Very happy, (ii) Rather happy, (iii) Not very happy or (iv) Not at all happy”. This visualization plots the share of people answering they are Very happy or Rather happy.

Our World Data, 2017

However, I wonder if these people felt “Very happy or Rather happy” or if they felt awkward being asked and decided to make the situation seem better than it was.

Global Emotions are not Your Emotions

Yes, there is countless information available through books, studies, reports, and research about other people’s happiness. Or what is considered the happiest country to live in. But you need to remember these are generalized reports. The only emotion that matters every day is your own.

Psychologists want us to track Our Own Emotions

In a 2021 article by Psychology Today the real problem is that people are unwilling to sit and feel their own emotions. (This makes me feel uncomfortable about the validity of those who answered in “Our World Data” happiness survey.)

Psychologists reveal how tracking your emotions grants insights into your well-being and can improve your mental health. Ultimately your emotions have the power to set you free from being stuck.

Track your happiness

Trackers are all the rave! From bullet journals to time management software to smartwatches. We have the ability to track almost anything from our sleep to our diet, to our fitness, to how long we spend on certain devices.

Simple is good, and find what works for you!

Forget colors of the wind, make it colors of your life

A good ole dot journal does the trick for me. Line it up into gridlock, where one tiny square represents one day of the year. These squares are color-coordinated to an emotion or group of similar emotions. At the end of the day color the tiny square it takes all of 5 seconds.

Here is a color order of emotions:
Yellow – elated

Bright green – happy

Pink – good

Blue – average

Purple – panic attack/anxiety attack/stressed

Orange – bad day

Red – write off (need a re-run)

Track emotions; Great revelation

Make sure you have a legend/key on the side so you know what each color means. Then at the end of the week review the colors you’ve used.

I find it incredible the insight a simple chart can provide. Sometimes going from elated to bad day, to write off, to elated. Then I wonder why my body is heavily fatigued. Until I check the emotion tracker and realize what my body is trying to say.

This week, find your thing in how to track your feelings. I’m keen to hear what you create for yourself. Remember we are all different so a paper tracker may not be your thing, but what you use may be the ideal inspiration for another. Be kind, pass it forward. Then check at the end of the week how you fared.