Why America’s happiness ranking is irrelevant

LaGRANGE, Ga. — Earlier this month, the news media was flooded with articles showing that America’s happiness ranking had declined, pushing the United States down to 23rd in the world. Reports showed that younger people are behind their elders when it comes to measures of happiness.

While reading these articles, I was invited by my college students to a “Dance Marathon.” These students spent their morning and afternoon having the time of their lives, fundraising thousands of dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network while perfecting a dance routine. There were athletic teams, Greek organizations, student government and theater students. They even worked with those who weren’t part of a student organization, making them feel welcome.

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Don’t think I was invited for my moves on the floor. I was there to sit atop the dunk tank. And yes, these students had a blast pitching balls to soak me thoroughly, all in good fun.

Oh, did I mention that it was the first Saturday of Spring Break for the college? They all postponed their travels home and vacations for this event, an annual tradition of fun for Children’s Healthcare Of Atlanta.

Had these college students tapped into something that pundits scrutinizing the survey results might have missed? What made these kids so … lively?

Author Emily Esfahani Smith knows their secret.

In a pre-pandemic TED Talk, she began by saying, “I used to think the whole purpose of life was pursuing happiness. Everyone said the path to happiness was success, so I searched for that ideal job, that perfect boyfriend, that beautiful apartment. But instead of ever feeling fulfilled, I felt anxious and adrift. And I wasn’t alone; my friends — they struggled with this, too. Eventually, I decided to go to graduate school for positive psychology to learn what truly makes people happy. But what I discovered there changed my life. The data showed that chasing happiness can make people unhappy.”

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What should we focus on? Esfahani Smith goes on to add, “Psychologist Martin Seligman says meaning comes from belonging to and serving something beyond yourself and from developing the best within you. Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but I came to see that seeking meaning is the more fulfilling path. And the studies show that people who have meaning in life, they’re more resilient, they do better in school and at work, and they even live longer.”

And it’s not just one day of the year of volunteering for these service-oriented students. I’ve been with several on natural disaster cleanups, donated to their lunchtime fundraisers and read about their activities in helping the community. Many have a family member or friend affected, and they simply want to help. And for those worried about the role of religion in America, you’ll find these college kids at events organized by our chaplain and church, too.

So instead of pumping up some “happiness” ranking, we should be boosting our country’s record on volunteering. The good news from the U.S. Census Bureau is that America is doing all right at volunteering. Women volunteer more than men. Veterans are the best at volunteering, helping neighbors. Those with higher education, and parents of kids, are among the best at volunteering. Generation X is the best at formal volunteering, while baby boomers lead in informal volunteering. And Americans do OK on rankings of donations to charity.

We could be doing better. More than 10 percent of charities closed during the pandemic, never to reopen.

But if you want joyful Americans, don’t look for artificial ways to make people happier. Give them some real service opportunities, a chance to make a tangible difference. You just might find this country will become a lot more cheerful, while tackling some real needs in our communities.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. His views are his own. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. His X account is @JohnTures2.