Jackie: Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton, welcome to Entertainment.

(sfx laughter)

Jackie: What makes you happy? Friends, family, art, money, a big TV set? Research

shows that having lots of money doesn't always mean being happier.

We're about to hear a report on the topic of wealth and happiness. First, let's

look at a few words and phrases related to happiness.

If you're feeling happy, you could also express it in these ways.

'I'm feeling quite cheerful today.'

'I'm content.'

'I'm feeling good.'

Another word for 'happiness' can be 'well-being'.

'The older I get, the greater my sense of well-being.'

(sfx crying)

What about unhappiness? That baby sounded miserable. 'Miserable' is a word

we sometimes use to describe someone who's not happy. We can also say.

'She's sad.' 

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'I'm feeling low.'

'He's a bit down today.'

Some of these words will come up in a moment. As you listen to this report by

Mark Easton answer this question: Are people in Britain happier now than they

were 50 years ago?

Report

It is perhaps one of the greatest challenges for developed nations around the world. Once

average incomes exceed about fifteen thousand dollars, additional wealth doesn't easily

translate into additional well-being. In some countries, notably the United States, it appears

that despite being richer than ever in their history, they're getting slightly more miserable. In

Britain, happiness levels appear to have remained constant since the 1950s despite the country

being three times richer.

Jackie: The answer to the question was 'no'. People in Britain are not happier than they

were 50 years ago, Mark said happiness levels have remained constant –

people are as happy as they were in the 1950s, even though Britain is three

times richer. And in the United States, although people are richer, they are a bit

more miserable than before.

So is there anything we can do to make us feel good? Some people think the

leaders of countries should take action. As you listen to the next part of the

report, answer this question. Why is happiness important for nations?

Report

Governments are being forced to consider the purpose of politics; should its prime aim be to

make people richer or to make people happier? Happy nations tend to be more productive,

health is better, people are more creative, life expectancy goes up. Quality of life matters. 

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Jackie: So why is a more cheerful country a better country? Well, there are a lot of

reasons, including people are more productive, which means they achieve

more at work and life expectancy goes up, meaning they live longer. Mark says

quality of life matters. 'Quality of life' is a term often used to talk about how

good or bad your life is and how happy you are.

So what are some of the things that make us feel like we have a bad quality of

life? Listen to find out.

Report

Mobility of labour, commuting, long working hours are all bad for happiness. A big gap

between rich and poor tends to reduce it too.

Jackie: So essentially, it looks like working too hard makes people feel low, and

commuting – travelling to and from work. As does a big pay gap – a situation

where there are very rich and very poor people living in the same region.

So these are things that, in theory, governments could improve, but what about

us as individuals? Dr Nicks Baylis is co-Director the new Well-Being Institute

at the University of Cambridge. He thinks that happiness has become an

industry. Firms want us to think we can buy happiness – whether it’s a tasty

chocolate bar or self-help books. 'Self-help books'…books telling you how you

can make yourself happier. Why does Dr Baylis think the commercialisation of

happiness is a bad thing?

Dr Nick Baylis

I think it's become an industry. There's 8 million self-help books claiming they can sell us

'feel-good'. I think that's a very unhelpful view of life because sometimes life feels bad and we

have to know what to do with those bad feelings and if we're just trying to feel good the

whole time and demonise the feeling bad, feeling scared or angry or ashamed or lonely, I 

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think we're missing much of the richness of life. As for there being a formula for happy lives,

I think that's going so far in the wrong direction.

Jackie: Dr Baylis rejects the idea of a formula – a set of rules – for how to be happy.

He thinks the 'feel-good' industry offers an unhelpful view of how we should

be living. He thinks is more important for us to stop just expecting to be able to

lead happy lives all the time. We must learn to accept that there are times when

we don't feel so good. What were some of the adjectives he used?

Dr Nick Baylis

…feeling bad, feeling scared or angry or ashamed or lonely…

Jackie: Feeling bad, scared, lonely, angry or ashamed. You feel ashamed when you

think you have done something wrong, like upset someone. Dr Baylis thinks

we shouldn't expect to be content all the time. We should learn how to accept

and cope with negative feelings. As, he says, they are all part of the richness of

life.