Whenever there’s a survey on the happiest countries in the world, Denmark usually comes out at or very near the top. So what makes them so happy?
Apparently is has a lot to do with low expectations.
There are 10 traditional rules called “Jante Law” (pronounced YUN-thu) they try to live their life by and those rules set them up to expect life to be nothing more than average.
The philosophy seems to be, If you never get your hopes up you’ll always be happy when things go well and you’ll never be let down if they don’t.
Their rules are very different from the unofficial rules we live by. We teach our kids, “You’re unique, you’re special, you’re capable of doing great things.”
It’s different in Denmark. Here are the 10 rules of Jante Law:
1. Don’t think you’re anything special.
2. Don’t think you’re as good as other people are.
3. Don’t think you’re smarter than other people are.
4. Don’t convince yourself you’re better than other people.
5. Don’t think you know more than other people do.
6. Don’t think you’re more important than you are.
7. Don’t think you’re good at anything.
8. Don’t laugh at other people.
9. Don’t think anyone cares about you.
10. Don’t think you can teach anyone anything.
We have to admit, that’s way too many don’ts for us. But it does sound like an attempt at living a humble life, and they just might be on to something there.
