Editor's Take: A Global Perspective On Happiness

By Raji Mohanam

In the United States and many countries in the West, happiness is often measured within a capitalist construct - by the ability to conveniently access material goods and services on-demand. This growing obsession with immediate gratification and endless scrolling on our phones could very well be a symptom of a growing epidemic: loneliness. Are we losing authentic connection with others - something that is so fundamental to human happiness? If so, it could be helpful to step back and view happiness through a global lens. How do other cultures define a fulfilling life?

In many parts of the world, happiness isn’t about fleeting pleasures or material gains. It’s built on simplicity, community, and long-term contentment. Life isn’t about treating oneself to endure the daily grind but about creating a life that’s fulfilling at its core. Home often plays a central role in this perspective—a place to strengthen relationships, find peace, and savor simple joys. A shared meal, a walk outdoors, or time spent with loved ones replaces the American reliance on convenience and consumption as pathways to satisfaction. 

In the West, we tend to measure contentment through familiar metrics—career advancement, homeownership, and the ability to indulge in small and large luxuries. Increasingly we need our days to be punctuated by little distractions (a coffee break for the newest seasonal latte or some online shopping for the latest viral product) that promise a moment of relief from the constant stress and demands of work and home life.

When thinking about my time spent in India, contentment seems to flow naturally through the rhythms of daily life. It’s in the lingering moments of morning routines- less rushed and more savored. For example, the morning ritual of making chai or a filter coffee is an art form without any shortcuts. Everything else is on hold until breakfast is properly prepared, served and eaten. Though changing rapidly in the bigger cities, families still prioritize gathering in the evenings, sharing stories over home-cooked meals. There exists an ease and comfort with time that we seem to have lost in the West. There is a natural intimacy between the self and community that brings people innate joy and is something I wish we experienced more of in America.

And these routines have nothing to do with denial or asceticism. Rather, they reveal how happiness can be woven into life's fabric rather than purchased as separate moments of escape. During my stays, I often observe in awe the way my extended family find profound satisfaction in what I had previously dismissed as ordinary moments—the daily walk to the market, the shared preparation of meals, the quiet attendance to household rituals.

I find similar patterns in Scandinavian culture with their practice of hygge—not as the commercialized concept it's often reduced to, but as a genuine philosophy of presence and connection. I experienced evenings where time seemed to slow, where conversation and candlelight created an atmosphere that no luxury purchase could replicate.

What struck me wasn't the absence of material comforts but rather how they served as backdrop rather than focal point. A beautiful ceramic mug enhanced the morning coffee ritual but wasn't its reason. The carefully chosen lighting created space for connection rather than serving as a design statement.

For Americans, rethinking happiness means reexamining priorities. Moving away from quick comforts—fast food, trendy coffee, endless entertainment—can feel like a loss at first. Slowing down and embracing simpler rhythms often requires trading instant gratification for deeper, more lasting rewards: stronger community ties, closer relationships, and sustainable well-being. 

This shift isn’t easy. Consumerism is deeply ingrained in American culture, and we often struggle to see joy in simplicity or value experiences not tied to material success. We are easily bored. Yet, for those willing to step outside this mindset, the transformation can be profound. Letting go of the constant chase for “more” and focusing on balance, connection, and intention can lead to a richer, more meaningful life. 

In the end, the question isn’t whether one version of happiness is better than another—it’s whether the life we’re building aligns with our values. Are we truly pursuing happiness, or are we just accumulating comforts to distract from dissatisfaction? Answering that question takes more than just a change in habits—it demands a willingness to redefine what it means to live well.