When They Tell You War and Happiness Co-exist...
Finding peace in a world of information overload

Every year we measure happiness. The collective happiness of a nation.
The World Happiness Report is a global initiative launched by the United Nations in 2012 and produces a report primarily authored by a group of independent experts in fields such as economics, psychology, and statistics. Happiness is measured using six categories including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and freedom from corruption.
Normally, I don’t pay much attention to the names on the list, apart from parking the country names as possible holiday destinations someday in the future. If the people are so happy, surely a little bit will rub off on a tourist!
This year, the list was presented to me in a somewhat hard-hitting fashion. The God of Social Algos was serving up some news items that included two old men wanting to be President again, a favourite cricket league team doing what it does best - raising our hopes, and heart-wrenching images from a very real war in the Middle East. As I continued to scroll, the Happiness List appeared. As expected, the Northern European nations continue to dominate the charts. Somehow the lack of sunlight doesn’t take away their joy!
But number 5 on the list is Israel. In the midst of a deadly war.
How does one process such information that passes by you at the speed of Reels. One second, you are seeing cities ravaged by war, and with a swipe, you are told of weirdly conflicting happiness statistics. What emotions and thoughts does one take away?
Around the same time, we also had a missing Princess. She announced a planned surgery, said she would be away from the spotlight for a few weeks and hoped to return by Easter. Yet, for the majority of the insta-news consuming world, she had no right to make such plans. We needed and deserved all the gory details. And being denied, we will make up stories of our own. From depression to divorce to death!
Bullied into making an appearance, the Princess appeared and gave us a collective lesson on patience, privacy and the perils of a bad PR team. We slinked away, again trying to process the heavy news of her actual illness.
As we scroll through news feeds bombarded with war, lies, and controversy theories, finding balance amidst the chaos becomes a daunting task. In a world where headlines change in the blink of an eye, processing conflicting information has become an everyday challenge. From the joyous ranks of the world's happiest nations to the grim scenes of war-torn cities, the emotional rollercoaster of our digital age leaves us reeling.
Cultivating Clarity Amidst Chaos
In such times, it's crucial to adopt a balanced approach to information consumption. Here are some strategies:
Critical Thinking: Instead of accepting information at face value, cultivate a habit of questioning and verifying sources. Look for credible sources and cross-reference information to ensure accuracy. Take a few seconds to better understand who the source is and whether they are competent to speak on this topic.
Media Literacy: Develop the ability to discern between credible journalism and sensationalism. Be wary of clickbait headlines and sensationalized stories designed to provoke emotional responses. If someone tries to scare you into clicking or reading and then presents you with little substance to back it up, just move on.
Mindful Consumption: Limit your exposure to news and social media to prevent information overload. Set boundaries on the amount of time spent consuming news and prioritize activities that promote mental well-being. With large-scale elections coming up across the globe, vote for your own sanity.
Seek Diverse Perspectives: Avoid echo chambers by seeking out diverse viewpoints and opinions. Engage in constructive conversations with people who have different perspectives to gain a broader understanding of complex issues.
Focus on Solutions: Instead of getting bogged down by negative news, focus on actionable steps and solutions. Look for stories of resilience, innovation, and progress to maintain a sense of hope and optimism.
Closing the Floodgates of Information Overload
Every day, the digital landscape churns out an overwhelming flood of content – news articles, social media updates, videos, memes, and more. It's a ceaseless torrent, constantly vying for our attention and inundating our senses. In this deluge of information, if we don’t develop the skill to pick and choose wisely, it's all too easy to be swept away into a chaotic and often depressing rabbit hole.
The sheer volume of content can be staggering, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected. The lines between fact and fiction, truth and falsehood, are blurred. In this digital age, misinformation spreads like wildfire, often outpacing the truth and sowing seeds of doubt and confusion.
To navigate this treacherous terrain, we must become discerning consumers of information—critical thinkers who approach every piece of content with a healthy dose of skepticism and scrutiny.
Moreover, we must recognize the importance of setting boundaries – of knowing when to disconnect, when to step back from the relentless barrage of news and updates, and when to prioritize our mental well-being. In a world where our attention is constantly under siege, cultivating mindfulness and intentionality in our media consumption is more important than ever.
As I write this, I am on a short break and nestled in the dense forests of Coorg. So far its been two days without my morning newspaper, Insta feed, status updates, and Whatsapp forwards. The content wheels are still churning. But I have topped my personal Happiness Report!