Dubai official 'reveals' formula for happiness

Dubai - Dubai residents have immense faith and optimism in the emirate's authorities; most of them feel happy, safe and secure.

To support the UAE Happiness Initiative, various speakers from happiness consultants to practitioners came together for a forum titled 'Happiness Talk - Spreading Happiness.' The thought provoking sessions offered audience tips, tools and techniques using the science and neuroscience of happiness, to develop a happy mindset and live a happy life.
The event started with a session by Ghanim bin Lahej Al Falasi, senior vice-president of People Happiness Department, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, who introduced his concept of Total Happiness.
Speaking about the importance of happiness in our lives and workplaces, he started with the most agreed upon definitions of happiness and why happiness is important in our lives and workplaces.
He showcased what and how to measure happiness more accurately through measuring not just material means to happiness but also emotions, feeling and state of minds. He said the latter have a deeper and longer effects on our happiness levels and also where true happiness originates and resides.
Al Falasi concluded his talk introducing a formula for happiness H = R - E [Happiness = Reality - Expectations] for people to start thinking about how the difference is one of the major factor that has influences on our happiness levels and left people with a tool to overcome this difference.
The talk was moderated by Adnan Butt, founder and managing director of Touch Points, a Dubai based management and marketing consultancy.
The next speaker Rehan Naeem, director for Corporate Happiness, Touch Points, started his talk with an exercise for the audience. He took people through a short mindfulness activity, intentionally seeding in a negative thought in their mind at the start of the activity.
"This was aimed at making people realise how unnecessary, unimportant and not life threatening negative thoughts cling to our brains and disturb our peace and happiness levels," he said.
Rehan pointed towards how over the years, starting from childhood we keep seeding in negativity in our brains and unwillingly and unknowingly develop a "negative mindset".
He stressed on how in our lives, happiness is related to success rather than the opposite where happiness should lead to success.
He talked about how we have set our drivers for happiness to be great job, wealth, fame and so many other things instead of containment, gratitude, compassion, kindness and empathy, which are the main drivers of happiness.
"Using your mind to change your brain... to change your mind" a Rick Hanson technique that helps people to start working towards their happiness.
saman@khaleejtimes.com
Do you know there is happiness formula?
There is a concept for total happiness, according to Ghanim bin Lahej Al Falasi, senior vice-president of People Happiness Department at Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority.
According to Al Falasi, happiness must be based on reality and not expectations. Hence the formula, Happiness = Reality - Expectations.
Dubai proud of its happiness scorecard
The residents of Dubai have shown immense faith and optimism in the emirate's authorities as most of them have affirmed they feel happy, safe and secure and satisfied with their life here, in a survey.
The happiness degree and levels of satisfaction felt by the Dubai population is seeing a steady growth, as per the results of the Dubai Social Survey 2015 conducted by the Community Development Authority (CDA) in cooperation with Dubai Statistics Centre (DSC).
Reviewing the results, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, on Monday said: "Perhaps the most important message coming from the results is that Dubai residents feel safe and secure. This is not new to the UAE as the spirit of tolerance and the rule of law have created a civilised, happy and stable community."
Key findings
According to the survey, 94 per cent of the respondents said that the Dubai Police treat everyone fairly, and 98 per cent said they have trust and confidence in the police. The elderly are the happiest segment, with the survey revealing a 99 per cent satisfaction rate in services for them. There was also a 98 per cent satisfaction in human rights services. Among other key results, 62 per cent of Emirati individuals with special needs said they are completely independent and self-reliant.
Shaikh Hamdan stressed that the Dubai Government is committed to ensuring the highest quality of life for the residents and is utilising all resources to enhance economic and social competitiveness. He said: "Social security is one of the government's top priorities and community welfare and happiness are our main objectives."
The survey, which sampled 15,165 individuals including 9,709 Emiratis, measures current levels of customer satisfaction in social services, and key performance indicators related to the social sector in Dubai Plan 2021, in addition to studying key social trends. It revealed that family cohesion, observance of laws and regulations, and respect for traditions are the social values that are most important to Emiratis.
A happy scorecard except...
An increase in people's happiness was also observed with the indicator receiving a score of 8.2 out of 10. Among the respondents, 98 per cent of citizens and residents feel safe on the streets compared to 91 per cent in Hong Kong and Singapore as recorded in the Gallup Global Law and Order 2015 report. The survey also revealed that 95 per cent of non-Emirati respondents said they have freedom of religious expression while 93 per cent of them said human rights are upheld in Dubai.
CDA Director-General Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar said: "The social surveys and field studies help define the requirements for services aimed at meeting the needs of different segments of the community. The survey has revealed positive results, which means Dubai is on the right track. However, there are very few areas that require attention, such as the low volunteering rate in Dubai. We already have more than 6,000 volunteers and this is a good number. We are still new to this culture of volunteering and are gradually building it up by making new policies and programmes to motivate and involve them."
DSC Executive Director Arif Al Muhairi said: "The social survey results contribute to the development of many regulations, plans and decisions related to social services. We are currently preparing for the 2017 survey. The Dubai survey highlights changes and trends in the social sector and provides information about actual needs and expectations."
saman@khaleejtimes.com

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