Travel to find the happiest societies on the planet. It is the proposal of Rainn Wilson and the geography of happiness, the documentary series in which the actor who became popular playing Dwight Schrute in The Office and which earned him three Emmy nominations, immerses himself in different cultures to see how People are capable of finding well-being in everything that surrounds them. The AMC documentary series is based on the New York Times bestseller by Eric Weiner and premieres this Wednesday on the channel ¡Buenviaje! at 10 p.m. Additionally, all five episodes of the series will be available on demand on AMC SELEKT the day after their linear premiere.
You affirm in the docuseries that the search for happiness, which is precisely your mission, is the main source of unhappiness…
Being obsessed with seeking happiness often causes us to not achieve it. The philosopher Henry David Thoreau said that happiness is like a butterfly that runs away as you chase it, but if you stop, it may land gently on your shoulder. So what we’ve tried to do in our show is just explore the human condition in different cultures to find what unites us and we find some wonderful details in common.
Is it perhaps easier to discover the reasons for unhappiness than the causes of happiness?
Yes, because everyone knows what it means to be unhappy. I think it was Leo Tolstoy who said that all families that are happy are happy in the same way but all families that are unhappy are unhappy in different ways. The factors that lead to unhappiness are very basic while in happiness there is a common denominator: community connection. When one is isolated he can find the source of happiness in coming together to eat, pray or laugh together.
In one of the chapters he travels to Bulgaria, one of the countries with the highest unhappiness rate in the world.
There precisely that feeling of community has not been allowed for hundreds of years because they have experienced the oppression of the Ottoman Turks or more recently, in the middle of the 20th century, of the Soviet Union, which did not allow small congregations, even of only four or five. people.
Highlight something about each of the countries you have visited in the search for happiness. Let’s start with Iceland.
The connection with nature, of which they are amazed and for which they feel great love and deep respect. The ocean, the volcanoes, the hot springs, the fairies who believe they live on the island… There is a sacred feeling for nature.
Ghana.
Optimism for the future. Everywhere they want to do projects and they also want to see progress. And there is also a lot of unity between their tribes.
Thailand.
Spiritual connection between people and to the Earth. Meditation and Buddhism are a traditional common thread, which offers a very pleasant and calm feeling.
The Angels.
I would say nothing (laughs). Well, the weather is nice (she laughs again).
Based on your experience on the program, do you think that happiness is contagious?
It is absolutely contagious. As is unhappiness. I would say that unhappiness is more from within and that you have to change your perspective of yourself to be happy. But we can also do things on the outside, such as limiting the use of electronic devices, exercising, being more grateful, fostering connection with ourselves and especially with the community… All of this has an influence, although the most important thing is inside us.
