Reflection: Finding Happiness Through Mindfulness and Gross National Happiness
The Bandung Peace Week (BPW) 2025 session on Wednesday (9/24) evening offered a profound experience on how true happiness is found, which is not merely through material achievements, but through full awareness present in every moment. The session opened with Tuan Anh guiding a simple yet meaningful meditation. By regulating their breath slowly, noticing each inhale and exhale, and feeling the body's gravity, participants were invited to be fully present. This practice serves as a gateway to understanding that true happiness is never far from oneself; it is always there, often just forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of life.
Gross National Happiness (GNH), introduced in this session, offers a new paradigm for looking at well-being. Unlike Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which solely measures economic growth, GNH teaches that a nation's prosperity should be viewed through inner quality, social harmony, and balance with nature. This concept feels deeply relevant, especially in a modern world that often measures success only through figures and statistics. Mindfulness serves as a vital bridge in implementing the GNH concept; without full awareness, it is difficult for individuals or nations to truly experience the meaning of well-being.
"In 1972, in a small Himalayan kingdom called Bhutan, a young prince suddenly became king at age of 17—King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He didn't know how to make his people happy. So, the king began to listen; he traveled from village to village, valley to valley, asking what they hoped for most. He heard various needs, but they all carried the same message: 'Everyone just wants a happy life for themselves and those they love.' The young king realized that a country should not be measured only by money or economic growth, but by the happiness and well-being of every citizen," Tuan Anh explained.
Voices of the Participants
The participants responded to the session with various positive sentiments:
- Alifa Jula: Expressed hope for future session with Tuan Anh, noting that the guided meditation provided a tangible experience of inner peace and self-connection.
- Mustafa: Shared a touching personal story about quitting smoking after having a child, realizing that true happiness does not lie in external habits but is born from within and from responsibility toward family.
- General Sentiment: Other participants felt that the simple meditation opened a new awareness regarding the value of breath, gratitude, and the small moments often overlooked.
Throughout the session, a collective energy was felt: a sense of calm, compassion, and heightened awareness, coupled with a drive to practice mindfulness in daily life. Some participants even felt challenged to delve deeper into family issues or apply mindfulness exercises to their daily routines.
For me personally, this reflection confirms that happiness is not a final destination, but a continous process nurtured through awareness, gratitude, and the courage to be fully present in every step of life.
This session reminded me that happiness cannot be postponed until one achieves something "big." Instead, it exists in simple moments: breathing mindfully, pausing from busyness to feel one's existence, or choosing a healthier lifestyle for the sake of family. From this foundation comes the courage to build communities, nations, and a world that is more prosperous—because true happiness always begins with the individual.
Through mindfulness and Gross National Happiness, we are all invited to reorder our life priorities, balancing material achievement with spiritual well-being. This is a call to everyone: to continue training our awareness, cultivating compassion, and nurturing simple happiness so that it may blossom into collective well-being.
—
Author : Indah Hapsari (Alumni CoP Indonesia & Volunteer BPW 2025)
Editor : Anisa Eka Putri Kusmayani
Translator : Ari Budi Santosa