12% Of UK Population Depressed? Try Discovering Your Goals

As a country, we’ve never had it better; well, that’s if you think that rising spending power equals increased happiness. It’s all too easy to get lost in the great illusion that the key to being happy in a direct function of earnings, house prices and a bullish stock market (well, until recently!). Do we all get too tied up with status, material acquisition and the state of the economy to really consider what makes us happy?

Reading the Guardian (UK National paper), I stumbled across the following article written by columnist and Radio 4 presenter Jackie Ashley. Jackie suggests that we are a “pill-popping people, gobbling down antidepressants, painkillers and antibiotics as if they were sweets” as well as a very worrying statistic that “12% of people now experience depression in any one year”. If she’s right, then I think we all need to take a step back and figure out what is so wrong with our lives.

GNH – Gross National Happiness

Gross National Happiness (GNH), which I mention somewhat tongue-in-cheek, was coined by the King of Bhutan frustrated by criticism of his country’s slow growing economy to measure the well being and happiness of the nation. It’s a nice idea, probably nicer in idea than practice, but if we really could measure our national happiness then I think, just like economy growth, we would all be doing a lot more to increase it.

Why is the UK Depressed?

Before you read any further, I want to make it clear that I am not a doctor, psychologist, or in any way an authority on depression. From past experience, I also understand that clinical depression can occur to people and for many it is beyond their control without seeking medical help. But, a figure of 12% of depressed people makes me think our lifestyles, our anxieties and our unfulfilling pursuits are causing us too feel inadequate and un-worthwhile. In fact, the inefficacy of anti depressants on many people is an indicator that there is more to be addressed than just brain chemistry.

It struck me a while back that there is something at the root of British culture, specifically our work culture and work-life balance (or lack of), that causes us to feel deeply unsatisfied with our lot. You have probably, at least once, had the feeling that you are working yourself to some sort of oblivion, and what’s more, with no idea what it is all for. Is it to have the newest car in the street? If so, you will never be satisfied; someone else will always eclipse you!

What can we all do to feel better?

In one sentence: find out what you want from life. You wouldn’t jump in your car and rush around frantically with no destination in mind. Without knowing your goals, that’s all you are doing in life.

It’s probably easier said then done; it’s certainly not as easy as listening to the platitudes of positive thinking of many a self help guru, but it’s a damn sight more effective. The Coffee Philosophy may be able to help. The Life Planner is just one of the online tools available from this brand new Self Growth website that will take your hand and lead you through the goal setting process step-by-step. Your Life Plan is not set in stone. Whenever you like and when circumstances change, come back to the Life Planner and re-evaluate your goals and life Plan until you are living the kind of life you dream of.

If you do feel unsatisfied with your life, you could do a lot worse than to create a Life Plan for yourself. There is nothing wrong with working hard. If you want to be wealthy, many of the world’s most successful people will tell you there is no other way, but make sure it is for something you want; not what you think the world expects of you. Don’t strive. Know what you want from life and go for it! Maybe then, one day we will see the UK Gross national Happiness graphed with the FTSE100 in the Financial Times!

Links and Resources

Richer but less happy, we are now a pill-popping people – Guardian Comment Is Free, Jackie Ashley.

Gross national Happiness

The Coffee Philosophy Life Planner