During high school I was intrigued by the subject of biology because it explained the processes that gave and sustained life. However, I wasn’t passionate enough to pursue it at a higher level.

One of the lessons that always stood out for me then, until now, was that of a synapse — the essential transmission of nervous impulses from one neuron to another, passing those crucial signals to individual target cells in the human body. I was fascinated that this unseen spark would trigger a chain of ongoing internal ‘firecracker’ bursts in us daily. Truly amazing! Yet we take it all for granted — something that comes so effortlessly is so vital to our focus, movement, and life.

Externally, life doesn’t voluntarily connect our automatic functions in the same way. So to make living worthwhile, we must search for those moments to add colour, flavour, bliss, and interaction to our energy life force.

It would have been perfect if our internal functions could have connected us externally to life in the same way simultaneously. But just sometimes, when we least expect it, like a miracle, life throws to us a visible synapse, a spark so powerful that it triggers bursts of beautiful energy to electrify and connect everything we engage in. Our focus becomes more precise; our nerve endings feel alive and sensitive, vibrating hard in concert with everything around us.

This external spark drives us in the right direction with a force to push harder and further, pursuing what may have seemed unimaginable in the past, but is now enticingly possible for the future. It passionately ignites us and has the power to shift our world’s rotational axis, making the mundane extraordinary.

For some people the spark comes from religion; for others, it’s romance, a new job, having a baby, or perhaps getting to know a better version of themselves. Whatever the experience may be, the fact is that others looking on can see it and feel it warmly radiating from the individual. As a result, they are glowingly happy and make others happy to be around them.

What does it take to make someone truly happy? Where does happiness come from?

When we just met, my husband once told me that happiness happens when your expectations align with your reality. The first time he said it, I rolled my eyes. “So I guess that throws ambition out the window,” I responded.

On July 19, 2011, the United Nations adopted resolution 65/309, ‘Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development’. The resolution, which Bhutan sponsored, invited governments worldwide to ‘give more importance to happiness and well-being in determining how to achieve and measure social and economic development’.

By the following year the first World Happiness Report was presented with the emerging science of how happiness and well-being could define a new economic paradigm. By June 28, 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/281, proclaiming March 20 the International Day of Happiness to be observed annually around the world.

Now the World Happiness Report is released every year circa March 20 in the global celebration of International Day of Happiness.

This report analyses how people from over 150 countries evaluate their lives. According to this year’s report, the world ranking of the happiest countries between 2019 and 2021 placed Finland as number one. The countries rounding out the top 10 are Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and Israel. Conversely, the least happy country is Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Jamaica ranked at 63.

Interestingly, genetic studies involving twin or family designs have found that between 30 to 40 per cent of the differences in happiness among people in a country derive from genetic differences. The other 60 or 70 per cent result from the effect of environmental influences, which have nothing to do with a person’s genetic make-up. (World Happiness Report, 2022)

So what do these top 10 happy counties have in common? Their citizens expressed positive emotions of community, freedom of choice, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in terms of purchasing power parity, “minimal suspicion of government corruption”, long life expectancy, clean and safe environments, social support, “generosity”, universal quality health care, and a healthy work-life balance.

No problem man!

As Jamaicans, we are known in international circles to have a carefree attitude, not permitting the day-to-day stresses of life to get underneath our skin. The famous “Jamaica, no problem man” is the daily mantra spoken to tourists who visit, conveying our easy-going personalities and lifestyle. The truth is that, however, this is not really the case, and most Jamaicans would love to express the same convictions as the citizens from the top 10 countries in the World Happiness Report.

We will not be able to change our environmental influences — which have most of us living in fear and unable to meet our basic needs — overnight. Notwithstanding these challenges, which are not overnight fixes, we can seek moments of happiness for ourselves.

So, here are three simple things that, if done consistently, will bring a spark to your life:

1) Exercise at least four days per week to release your endorphins — hormones the body produces during pleasurable activities which help to reduce pain or stress. Exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym. You can walk briskly or turn on your favourite music and dance for at least 20 minutes. If you need motivation, ask a friend to join you. Trust me, and you will feel good and have more energy.

2) Ensure you force yourself to sleep and rest to help your body’s cellular regeneration, recovery, and promotion of better physical and mental performance, which are all vital to your overall health over the long term. When you don’t rest, your thinking, concentration, energy levels, and mood are all interrupted.

3) Purposefully let go of the people who surround you with toxic, depleting energies and choose to stay close to those or make space for others whose presence and support are real, constant, and empowering.

Here’s to you finding your spark. Have a great week everyone.

Lisa Hanna is Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a former Cabinet member.