by: Evan Comen, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich (24/7 Wall St.)
In the United States Declaration of Independence, the pursuit of happiness is considered an inalienable right of all Americans. Finding happiness and fulfillment, however, is no easy feat, and some have had far more success than others. Well-being varies considerably across the country.
To capture Americans’ general well-being, Gallup surveyed 354,473 people to build the Well-Being Index in partnership with health and wellness organization Healthways. The index measures whether individuals feel a sense of purpose, have supportive relationships, are financially secure, satisfied with their community, and are in good physical health...
Read the complete story here.Through initiatives such as the popular Blue Zones Project and Walking School Bus program, Healthways researchers have found that targeted initiatives can often improve well-being across multiple elements — physical, social, financial, community, purpose — at once.
