It happened in the blink of an eye, or should that be, in a moment of unthinking distraction?
Stumbling off the interstate plane into the Sydney Airport terminal, I decided to visit the ladies before going outside to find a taxi.
With brain switched to autopilot, I thoughtlessly put my mobile phone down on the toilet roll holder.
It wasn’t until walking outside the terminal to join the taxi rank when the question hit me.
“Where’s my phone?”
If you’ve ever lost your wallet, your phone or a beloved pet, you’ll know just how stressful that event can be.
It’s not just the loss, it’s the inconvenience, hassle and associated grief.
But did you know, the chance of being reunited with your lost item or pet is influenced by where you live?
Sure, if you live in an exceptionally dodgy neighbourhood, expectations of a happy return may be low. (And I’m sorry to say, I must include airport terminals here.)
But your expectation and actual return of your lost item may be higher, if you happen to live in a Nordic country.
Why?
To discover more, I suggest you read the 2025 World Happiness Report, which this year focuses on the impact of caring and sharing on people’s overall level of happiness.
The first question asked in the report is:
-
Are we too pessimistic about the benevolence of others?
If expectations are low, this can keep us stuck in negative thought bubbles of “This is typical of society today. People just can’t be trusted any more to do the right thing.”
However, the data suggests we are too pessimistic, and that people may go out of their way to assist in returning a lost item to the rightful owner.
The report also highlights how our perception (world view) and witnessing the kindness of others plays a significant role in determining our overall level of happiness and wellbeing.
-
What is the actual level of benevolence and kindness?
The really good news is that we are becoming more benevolent – despite all the idiocy, wars and geopolitical turmoil we’re constantly exposed to in the media.
The data suggests benevolent acts were 10% more frequent in 2024 compared to 2017-19 in all generations and almost all global regions, which is good for the giver and the receiver, leading to a greater reduction in the inequality of wellbeing.
-
Who benefits the most from acts of benevolence?
Unsurprisingly, the people who benefit the most are the most unhappy.
An act of kindness, like being invited in to share a meal or given an unexpected gift that will ease your current burden or being provided a buddy to help you settle into a new job or location, can make a significant difference to feeling cared about, which drives happiness.
Better than taking happy pills, feeling cared about makes all the difference to our self-esteem, our motivation to help ourselves or someone else, and our overall well-being.
One of the consultant obstetricians I worked for as a Junior Doctor, on hearing I wanted to enter General Practice, gave me the best piece of advice I have ever had.
“Jenny, your future patients will benefit the most, not from your expertise, but by showing how much you care about them.”
Lessons from the latest World Happiness Report
Country rankings by life evaluations in 2025 list Finland, Denmark and Iceland in the top three. No surprises there.
Sadly, however, Australia has dropped out of the top 10 and now sits at no 11.
The UK sits at no 23 and the US at no 24.
It’s time to roll up our sleeves to do better, and we can, by,
- Enjoying a high level of social support through family, friends and the workplace
- Having the freedom to make life choices. Autonomy matters to the level it determines how long we will live!
- Being generous with your time, attention and energy – giving as much as receiving.
- Monitoring those perceptions of corruption within society. A higher level of trust in our institutions creates greater hope, security and confidence we’re all being looked after.
- Enjoying more days of positive rather than negative affect.
I didn’t get my phone back, but I had a great weekend away in the company of very special friends who ensured I was cared for and looked after.
There are many ways we can work to create more happiness in our own lives and that of others.
Caring and sharing begins with setting the intention to do the right thing by others and then taking action.
Here are three easy ways to do this:
Donate.
This could be your time, expertise or money.
Volunteer.
There are a multitude of organisations that depend on the generosity of their volunteers who freely give up their time and energy to support various projects set up for the greater good. Their reward is knowing they are making a positive difference and creating new friends at the same time.
If you’re interested in nature or your environment, why not sign up to help on a regular basis.
Help when you see a need.
When caught up in our own bubble of busyness, it’s easy to overlook the signals that someone could really do with our help. Slowing down and switching off the phone or laptop helps you to get better at noticing what’s happening around you.
Now you can see that offering to sit with the partner of a neighbour recently diagnosed with dementia, to give them some respite or time to get a haircut.
Or noticing a work colleague is struggling under a deluge of work and offering to help in some way.
Or thanking the exhausted-looking waitperson with your best cheery smile, for them doing a great job.
Kindness is caring and sharing, and a little can go a long way to creating more happiness and wellbeing in the world.
How do you create greater health and happiness in your world?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
