Vanuatu – the happiest people on earth
12 years ago, when I heard that the people in Vanuatu are the happiest on earth, I was intrigued, and, as a result it went onto my very small bucket list. But since then, my view on happiness has changed. I had originally thought that being happy was something to attain to, I now see life as something that contains both joy and sorrow, and we need both. How could I know joy if I have nothing but joy to compare it to?
So, this year when I went to Vanuatu, I found the people that were very friendly, polite and content. Most of the islanders grow their own food, enjoying spending time in their communities, and live a simple life. It is vastly different from our western lives here. With a minimum wage of $3.50 an hour and food costing a little more than it does in Australia, an initial glance could make you think they would be rather unhappy. But it seems having a very limited ability to accumulate stuff, means that you’d best just be happy with what you have.
Whilst it was lovely to visit and experience a week in Vanuatu, if I lived there, I think I would miss the opportunities to be had in Australia and some of the challenges that come with solving complex problems. However, what I can take away is gratitude, finding joy in the moment, and spending time with people, rather than on a screen. This is the advice that we all know is good for us, but much harder to practice in our culture.
Stress and anxiety are well known for their effect on the nervous system and so many other areas of health, and I’m always looking for ways to reduce these feelings in my life. I initially thought that it was the simple Vanuatu lifestyle that gave those individuals calm and joy, but the more I think about it, it’s just contentment, which is being happy with what one has. In a world where you can accumulate things, and social media always pointing out what you don’t have, contentment is a lot harder to find here in Australia.
My favourite herbs for the nervous system are skullcap and vervain, since they are so good for simply bringing the stress down a notch. Plus, you can’t go past magnesium to calm the mind and the body. If you feel like you’ve never recovered well from a period of stress, herbal adaptogens are the answer. The most common one is Withania (ashwaganda), and these adaptogens help you cope with whatever life throws at you. Some of them are more calming and others, such as Siberian ginseng, is stimulating, as it helps to improve your energy if you’re feeling flat after a period of physical or mental stress.
If you need help with stress, anxiety, depression, or other nervous system support, I have some great products that can help you. Additionally, I will take the time to sit and really listen to what’s been going on with the lead up to your health issues in the past and understanding what is happening now.
So, what can you do this week to remove something from your life that leaves you feeling dissatisfied, and what can you do to help you focus on being thankful?
