The Happiness Paradox

Did you see the article by Nancy Gibbs in Time Magazine the other week on “The Happiness Paradox”? Seems Gallup surveys at least 1,000 people every day to determine the nation’s happiness level. So when the markets crashed last fall, happiness did too.

But the paradox is that this past summer was happier for Americans than the summer before (when we weren’t in a recession) and happiness is now at an all-time high. People are more optimistic, more excited about Christmas, despite the fact that almost everyone is doing worse financially.

Guess the Bible is actually right – a person’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of his possessions, it’s better to give than receive, you can be content when hungry and living in want, yada yada, blah blah blah.