World Happiness Index and the Meaning of Success, Happiness and Wellbeing
Pursuit of success, happiness and wellbeing are worthy endeavors, even with all their trials and tribulations. In this article, I share an example and a guide to such a pursuit.
"Security is mostly superstition. It does not exist in nature." ~ Helen Keller
Despite our often deep differences, there is something irrefutable that brings us human beings together on this planet, something we all share in common.
(Actually, I think there is more that brings us together. But it requires a bit of deeper thinking than I can muster on the Monday morning I am writing this article. So let's stay with the “irrefutable” argument for now.)
We all come to this planet with a predetermined future: At some point in the future, whether we like it or not, each of us must exit this plane of existence.
(Sorry to be the bearer of the bad news. But, c'mon, this couldn't have been entirely news to you.)
But hear me out: I actually bring you good news.
The Happiness Index
On March 20, 2025, The World Happiness Report released the 13th edition of their popular Happiness Index.
Years ago, when I heard about this index, the first question that popped into my head was: What's their definition of happiness?
Turns out, they seem to have a fairly good idea of what it means to be happy. In fact, they have a section where they answer the question: What is happiness? In this section, they seem to link Happiness to Wellbeing and then state the following:
"Wellbeing is your inner subjective state; the quality of your life as you experience it. We believe that the ultimate good is the wellbeing of present and future generations. Other goods (like health, wealth, relationships etc.) are good because they help us to feel good."
Fair enough.
Uncaused Happiness
There is a question I have pondered quite a bit in the last few years of my life: Is there a kind of happiness that is not caused by external conditions or circumstances?
Here are a few more ways to consider this question:
Can we be happy without being subject to external environments and circumstances that we think make us happy?
Is there a state of happiness where what The World Happiness Report defines as wellbeing is irrelevant?
Is it possible for our inner happiness not to depend on accumulating stuff, doing things or achieving goals?
Is it possible to be happy even when the factors that drive our wellbeing are not present?
What does uncaused, unconditional happiness feel like, if there is even such a thing?
Splitting Hair: A Pursuit of Success, Wellbeing and Happiness
I have found some answers to such questions, and I will be bringing them to you in this newsletter and other places where I publish my content.
However, let me share with you the crux of what I found in my search: Happiness and Success are two distinct, separate things, but they are deeply intertwined.
What is success?
A good definition of Success is "continuous achievement of meaningful goals."
Wellbeing, as defined by The World Happiness Report above, is more closely related to success than happiness. Wellbeing seems encompass the external factors that success does not take into account, such as access to healthcare or living in a stable political environment. In a way, the happiness they defined based on wellbeing is not really a definition of happiness; It’s closer to the definitions of success.
Pure happiness is not related to whether we are successful or not, whether our wellbeing is met or not. It stands on its own.
Are we splitting hair here? Perhaps.
But there is a point to such splitting of hair, so bear with me.
The commonly accepted view is that success—along with the external factors that make up that success—makes us Happy.
"The uncaused, unconditioned, unfiltered, non-objective happiness that does not depend on external factors can drive success and wellbeing."
However, what I found is that happiness—the uncaused, unfiltered, non-objective Happiness—can also drive success.
In fact, when one lives from this perspective, they would discover that being happy and then letting that state of happiness drive all of the others things such as actions, thoughts, emotions and behaviors is a terrific way to live a life.
In other words, be happy first, and then let it drive all the other factors that make up our sense of success and wellbeing.
But, of course, you ask, as you should: What’s the point of such hair-splitting when it comes to leading teams and building organizations?
Building Teams, Businesses and Organizations with a Happiness-First Mindset
As leaders, managers and business builders, we can choose between two philosophies.
The first is choice to lead with “success-first, happiness later” business philosophy. This choice is a default in our world culture, simply because most of us have not yet caught up to the alternative.
The alternative is to lead with the “happiness-first, success-later” philosophy. This may feel like growing against the grain, with some experimentation and risk-taking.
We can build the culture of teams, businesses and organizations based on “success-first” principle. We can also build them rooted in “happiness-first” principle.
In my educated and experiential opinion—and it’s an opinion nevertheless—the latter option, to lead with happiness-first principle is much more powerful.
In other words, the chances of building highly successful, long-lasting organizations are exponentially higher if we follow the “happiness-first” philosophy than the “success-first” philosophy.
Don’t Believe Me: Your Perspective Is Your Superpower
Everything I propose with what I bring to you comes with a caveat: Take it for the checking. I say this not because I am not confident in my suggestions, but because only you can be the judge of what works best in your world.
This is why I have a podcast.
On this podcast, called “The Business Philosopher Within You,” I have regular conversations with people who I admire and respect, who have built (or are building) extraordinary businesses and organizations, and get to know their stories — their business philosophies - that helped them get there.
This is also why I have regular conversations on this podcast with experts and thought leaders who have spent years, often decades, pursuing fields of study and practice that add value to our endeavors.
In this article, I bring two such perspectives.
One is a story of determination, grit and deeply held personal values. The other is rooted in decades of diving deep into a field of self-discovery, into the essence of what makes us human.
My hope is that there is something here that will help you away with some actionable insights.
Happy Success!
Bhavesh.
“Transforming Insurance with AI: A CEO’s Bold Journey” with Sri Ramaswamy, Founder, CEO, Patent Holder, Charlee.ai
What does it take to revolutionize an industry while staying true to human values?
In this episode of "The Business Philosopher Within You" podcast, I sat down with Sri Ramaswamy, CEO of Charlee AI, a trailblazing AI platform reshaping the insurance industry.
We explored how AI is unlocking potential for exposure and risk management, while nurturing collaboration and organizational growth.
Among what we discussed:
How Charlee AI leverages cutting-edge technology to bring structure to unstructured data, enabling insurers to make faster, objective decisions.
The balance between innovation and empathy: Sri’s bold vision for the future of insurance, focusing on exposure intelligence and customer-centric solutions.
The entrepreneurial journey: Lessons on emotional intelligence, effective communication, and navigating challenges in a slow-moving industry.
Practical insights into leadership development, team dynamics, and creating a culture of independence and respect in remote work environments.
Sri also shares her personal story, blending professional achievements with self-awareness and resilience.
From building a patented AI platform to managing the unpredictability of life, her journey offers invaluable lessons for leaders and entrepreneurs alike.
“Discovering How Meditation Impacts Your Business Success” with Jeff Patterson,
Founder and Instructor, The Yielding Warrior
One way to access the ultimate source of this uncaused happiness is the art and skill of meditation. In this episode, I had a deep conversation with Jeff Patterson, who is a seasoned meditation and martial arts expert with over 36 years of experience.
Jeff is a seasoned meditation and martial arts expert with over 36 years of experience, who shares actionable insights on integrating mindfulness into daily life for personal and organizational growth.
Watch or listen the above video to:
Explore the impact of meditation on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and communication.
Learn how to incorporate practical meditation techniques like breathing exercises and posture alignment to reset and refocus throughout the day.
Understand the concept of "yielding" in physical, mental, and emotional contexts to enhance collaboration and manage conflicts effectively.
Discover the benefits of consistent meditation practices for leadership development, team dynamics and remote work challenges.
Consider philosophical perspectives on mindfulness and how they apply to achieving balance and empathy in professional relationships.
Jeff also introduces his three pillars of meditation—ritual, active, and philosophical practices—offering a roadmap for integrating mindfulness into your lifestyle.