Recently, The Global Flourishing Study, one of the largest social research projects on humans with over 200,000 participants from 22 countries with diverse cultures and lifestyles across all regions, published their latest findings on the question: What are the components of a good life?
After five years, the answers weren’t much different from what we’ve known: having stable job (ideally a dream job), a balanced life, good health, supportive friends and social networks, a house, a safe society with access to healthcare and retirement savings. However, they still cannot completely fulfill their lives.
The team found those who are content with their lives, even though other components were incomplete or lacking, attended religious services or ceremonies more than once a week. Participants who believe in spirituality usually pray regularly while always focusing on self-improvement.
So, it might not be surprising that the countries scoring highest include Indonesia, Mexico, and the Philippines, where spiritual life is rich and social support strong. The same is true for participants in Israel and India, where everyday life involves heavy struggles. Industrialized countries such as the US, Germany, and England scored poorly, with Japan ranking the lowest.
The top of Maslow’s pyramid is self-actualization, so it’s not surprising that basic needs and life security are not the ultimate answers. Unfortunately, we often forget this truth.
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