Secrets to happiness across the globe
As a new book reveals the secrets to contentment across the globe, we pick out some of our favourite cheerful concepts
It’s a phrase that’s synonymous with Hawaiians today, but it actually goes back to AD500 when the first settlers used the phrase to mean love, sympathy, kindness and compassion. Over the years, it’s become both a greeting and a guiding way of life, prioritising the way you interact with the natural world. We love this culture of kindness which means welcoming everyone with a warm heart, respecting your surroundings and reconnecting with nature.
Meraki – Greece
Meaning precision, devotion and giving your undivided attention, this Greek concept is about putting your heart and soul into what you are doing. Similar to mindfulness, meraki is about turning off other distractions and focusing your efforts on one particular thing. This could be a craft project or a recipe or even just laying the dining table as elegantly as you can, enjoying the care and precision you put into the activity. The Greeks say perfectionism is only a negative if it makes you stressed and that you should relish the passion you put into making something perfect. Wabi Sabi – Japan In Japan, there’s a hobby called Kintsungi which is the ancient art of repairing broken ceramics in a way that doesn’t hide the cracks but instead highlights them in gold, celebrating the breaks. This practice epitomises what the Japanese mean by Wabi Sabi, which is about accepting the beauty of imperfection and revelling in change, age and the complexities of real life. Nature inspires the Japanese to do this with its changing seasons and wild ways, from fallen leaves to blossom in the wind. They also practice Wabi Sabi by creating something new from something old.
Mai Pen Rai – Thailand
Often translated as ‘never mind’ or don’t worry’, this Thai philosophy is about reducing conflict and reminding ourselves of the importance of accepting life as it is. Traffic jam? You’ll get there eventually. Flight delayed? Marvel at the wonder of an aeroplane being able to transport us across the world in the first place. It’s about having perspective and doing everything the best you can, then accepting you can do no more.
Saudade – Brazil
Celebrating nostalgia, this is about the ironic happiness that can come from a sense of longing or melancholy for the past. It’s a memory of something you’re really happy was a part of you, but is no more, whether that’s a person or a place, and that can help you feel more grateful for what you do have now. One way to practise this is to look back at old photographs of a friend or loved one you’ve lost touch with and embrace the feelings of reminiscence, remembering those you’ve loved and then practising gratitude for those you still have. You could even spend a whole day, like the Brazilians do, indulging in nostalgia by watching old films, listening to music and digging out old love letters.
■ The Atlas of Happiness by Helen Russell is out now, rrp £11.48