Nestled amongst the mighty Himalayas and between swift-flowing rivers and deep valleys, lies Bhutan. It’s one of the world’s tiniest countries with a population of slightly less than 700,000. Having said that, Bhutan’s commitment to conservation, happiness and sustainability beats most of the remaining world. So much so that we could all justifiably learn a great deal from this small, otherworldly country.

Here are key essentials of a fulfilling life that you can learn from Bhutan:

1. Happiness is everything

Do you know the reason behind the Bhutanese radiating happiness? It’s the Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy of the country.

This guiding force of the Bhutanese Government prioritises its peoples’ wellbeing and happiness in the development index. Gross National Happiness is of such high importance to the country that even the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) doesn’t stand a chance before it.

2. Act with Compassion

Through Buddhism, the country’s main religion, the Bhutanese have made the religious beliefs a way of life.  So, they naturally practice compassion towards all live beings, which Buddhism highly values.

3. Care for the Environment

The Bhutanese urge for protecting their flora and fauna stems from their traditional respect for nature. Moreover, it’s a Bhutan Constitution mandate to perpetually preserve at least 70 per cent of the country’s land under forest cover.

Consequently, Bhutan is carbon negative, producing more oxygen than it consumes. What’s more, the clean and fresh Bhutan air helps resist the world’s climate change, thus contributing appreciably to a cleaner planet.

4. Get back to basics.

The Bhutanese have strong advocacy to retain their unique, ancient culture. Their simple habit of relying on each other teaches us the sheer joy of pure and uninterrupted human interaction. Be it a sporting event or festive gathering, the people of Bhutan always fall back on their basic traditions of camaraderie.