Happiness Hot Spots



Mexico

Photograph by David McLain, Aurora

Located in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, Monterrey is a particular pocket of happiness in a country that already ranks high in happiness studies. This is despite rampant crime, including assassinations, kidnappings for ransom, and the murders of hundreds of police each year in ongoing drug wars. Lack of confidence in the police and government is widespread.

But even while coping with such realities, Mexicans continue to experience high levels of well-being. In his research, Buettner found that strong relationships with friends and family, supercharged faith in their church, and a remarkable capacity to laugh in the face of hardship are some of the qualities that have lifted Mexicans above all but a few nations in happiness rankings.