Happiness Doesn't Need To Cost Much

So you want to be happy, deliriously happy? Consider moving to Nigeria. Nigerians are the happiest people in the world, according to the World Values Survey. That doesn't surprise me at all, because I keep receiving emails from Nigerians eager to share their wealth with me. I'd be happy, too, if I had so much loot.
But the survey found that almost 70% of Nigerians consider themselves very happy, and the vast majority of them, I presume, are not running email scams. Which begs the question: what type of scams are they running? Surely they must be doing something illegal to be so happy!

Well, not necessarily. Acquiring tons of money – illegally or otherwise -- is only a limited factor in happiness, not as significant as, say, having good friends, according to New Scientist magazine, which published the results of the survey. Bill Gates, for example, is so happy not because of his immense wealth but because everybody wants to be his friend. It's too bad there's not enough room on that yacht.
Money can certainly buy happiness, but its impact seems to drop once you can afford basic necessities, such as food, shelter, clothing, and satellite TV. That may explain why
happiness levels in industrialized nations have remained static over the last half-century despite soaring incomes. Of course, inflation is also a culprit. Money just doesn't buy as much happiness as it used to.

Even when money does exert an influence, it isn't the size of your paycheck that matters, it's how you compare to friends, neighbours and colleagues, New Scientist says. The New York cabbie who has an efficient car may seem happy, but not as happy as the Ethiopian villager who has an efficient cow. Likewise, if your friends fall on hard times, you may actually feel a little happier, as long as they don't move in with you.

When you're living amid wealth and luxury, your desires tend to be greater. Unfulfilled desires are a major source of unhappiness. And if you don't believe me, just look at the faces of women in a shoe store.

Female shopper: "There are so many nice shoes here. Don't you wish you had more money?"

Friend: "No, I wish I had more feet. Why did God give us only two? I mean, look at what he did for centipedes."

It shouldn't be surprising, then, that Nigeria, Mexico, Venezuela and El Salvador ranked the highest in happiness among the 65-plus countries surveyed, leaving some residents of wealthy countries to scratch their heads in utter bewilderment, wondering if they need to buy bigger TVs.

Canada ranked 11th, Australia 13th, United States 15th, United Kingdom 16th and Japan 20th. Of course, many poorer countries ranked lower. India, for example, was 21st, but most Indians are undoubtedly thrilled about this, because they finished two spots ahead of Pakistan.

Like people throughout the world, they can't help comparing themselves to their neighbours.
As the survey indicates, happiness can sprout in various ways and flourish in various cultures. Money isn't as significant as friendships, marriage, religion and charity. Adopting a child can bring you more happiness, I believe, than adopting a Cadillac.

Nothing brings me more joy than watching my 16-month-old daughter laugh and play. I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world -- not even a plane ticket to Nigeria.

Melvin Durai is a U.S.-based writer and humorist who grew up in Zambia. His weekly humor columns are read by thousands of people in more than 90 countries. For an email subscription to his columns, please visit his website