And how can we be happy?
These questions are integral to the human experience, but their answers can be elusive.
We can apply several perspectives to approach them, through philosophy or psychology, for instance.
We can also use our personal view of our feelings and goals as we navigate through life.
But can we bring a scientific approach to happiness?
Meik Wiking, CEO of theHappiness Research Institutein Copenhagen, believes we can.
We caught up with Meik Wiking atTNW 2022and asked him the big questions around happiness.
Alternatively, you canwatch it right here.
Happiness is a dish with many different ingredients on it, Wiking told us.
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Above all, happiness is an emotion, Wiking explained, and as such its subjective.
So what can we do to cultivate this emotion and be happier?
Wiking suggests theres an ABC in happiness as well.
A stands for act, B stands for belong, and C stands for commit.
But is happiness only a matter of perception or do external circumstances also play a role?
And is it possible for the whole world to be happier?
Click here to get his answers and watch the full interview.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW.
With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
