“If you are happy, you can make others happy. If you make others happy, you will be even happier.” Gleim (German poet)
When people in Northern Europe teach their children, they emphasize the “law of Jante.” This is a customary practice that has been passed down in Scandinavia. Jante is one of the common names like James in America, implying an ordinary person. The law that is deeply rooted in them is as follows:
“Don’t think that you are special, don’t think that you are in the same position with others, don’t think that you are smarter than others, don’t think that you are in a better position than others, don’t think that you know more than others, don’t think that you are more important than others, don’t think that you will be good at anything, don’t laugh at others, don’t think that everyone cares about you, and don’t try to teach others.”
To parents, their children are the most special. However, the reason they make efforts to raise their children as ordinary people is because they think it is more valuable to be respectful and considerate of others than to think that they are better and more outstanding than others. The people of Northern Europe with a high happiness index comes from their desire to live a humble life, not seeking something special.