In times of uncertainty, we pursue ways to feel happier. From the little things that bring a smile to your face, to amazing moments that bring about pure bliss – it’s an emotion we seek to attain and cherish.
Denmark, lauded as the second happiest country in the world by the 2020 World Happiness Report, has taken charge on this front and created the Happiness Museum.
Situated in Copenhagen, the 240-square-metre museum is the first of its kind, curated entirely to showcase the different facets of happiness. Visitors can discover the science and varied perspectives of this emotion that our daily lives benefit from.
Since its launch in July 2020, it has become one of Copenhagen’s most interesting offerings, among the already bountiful attractions that can be found in The City of Spires.
Finding Your Happy Place
“Finding your happy place” is a phrase often spoken by those giving advice to people who feel like they need a little more light in their life, especially when the going gets a little tough. This seems to be the Happiness Museum’s main objective, with their official mission being to leave guests “a little wiser, a little happier and a little more motivated to make the world a better place.”
The space is driven by actual data as well, as it is run by the Happiness Research Institute, which specialises in studying how different cultures perceive and achieve happiness. Allowing guests to delve into both the science and history behind happiness, the museum boasts plenty of interactive exhibits for people to explore and try out.
Unlike other museums, this one even actively encourages visitors to use their smartphones in order to make the most of the interactive experiences. Presently, the museum limits its max number of guests at a given time to 30, with groups bigger than 10 having to book in advance. This is to ensure safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The young establishment touts that they are a small museum unafraid of the big questions in life. And one of the biggest questions known to man since the time of the Greek philosophers is, arguably, “What does it mean to be happy?”
The museum aims to answer that line of questioning in the pursuit of finding a little grace. Different people and societies rank joy in varying ways. What ties it all together is the universal science behind it. This science tries to figure out how to achieve good feelings just as much as it tries to explain why.
Various studies compiled by Healthline show that one can essentially “hack their hormones” to produce a good mood. Eating a good meal, reminiscing about a happy memory, having a good night’s sleep, and cuddling are all shown as simple ways to elevate one’s mood effectively. That’s because they produce those sought-after chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins.
A visit around the museum, is a good reminder to do the things that bring you joy, and the things that will raise your feel-good hormone levels. For me, it’s hiking and being out doors, it’s also cooking nutritious food and spending time with friends.
The exhibits also highlight the differences among countries’ perceptions of happiness. For instance, here in the UK, a recent survey revealed that a good joke tops the list of ultimate pick-me-ups, followed closely by speaking with loved ones, listening to some favourite tunes, a nice hug, and even a good old cup of tea. You ‘can’t beat a cuppa’ as we like to say in Yorkshire.
In studies by researcher William Tov, meanwhile, it’s revealed how impactful cultural differences can be on shaping happiness. Europeans and Americans are known to prefer excitement as opposed to the Chinese, who tend to seek out serenity. Over the years, I’ve found a combination of all these things work for me.
Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, encapsulates it perfectly himself, saying: “We might be Danish or Mexican or American or Chinese, but we are first and foremost people… It’s the same things that drive happiness no matter where we’re from, and I hope that people will see that in the exhibition.”
