Do you want to celebrate life and happiness on an international scale? Then, make sure to mark your calendars for the International Day of Happiness.
With everything that has transpired over the last few years, many people have found themselves to be in either a dull state, or for some, emotions like anger and depression have sadly become the norm. That is why we are spotlighting this international day of celebration as a perfect opportunity to seek the silver lining, focus on what makes you happy, and for one day, lean towards enjoying all the good things in your life.
When is International Day of Happiness?
The event of International Day of Happiness, organized by the United Nations, is celebrated every year on 20th March. It brings us a reminder that being happy is a basic human right that needs to be celebrated.
A Brief History of International Day of Happiness
To the people who are unaware of this day, an event like this may sound unreal and silly. Maybe they are picturing kids singing "If you're happy and you know it..." or someone dancing excitedly under a midday sun and rainbows. Even though they are not completely wrong, who doesn't like feeling joy in their hearts? However, the truth is that International Day of Happiness is much more than just smiles and positive vibes.
All thanks to the United Nations, whose unanimous efforts with a non-profit organization, formed by people from 160 countries, Action for Happiness- made it possible for us to celebrate this day. The objective of this movement was to raise awareness that national prosperity does not only come from generating revenues and stimulating economic growth; it's also about human pleasure and well-being.
In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing happiness as a "fundamental human right" along with economic opportunity.
In 2013, all 193 UN member states observed the world's first-ever International Day of Happiness; It has gained popularity since then.
So, if you are listening to Pharrell William's "Happy" on loop on 20th March, take a pause, and re-live all the moments that truly bring you happiness.
What Are The Traditions of This Day?
There are no said rituals to celebrate this day since everyone has a different source of happiness or things that bring them peace. Happiness is all about being content and not having to pretend your sentiments. So, go out and do whatever brings you peace and happiness.
How to Celebrate International Day of Happiness?
This day encourages people from all over the world to create more happiness around them. You may celebrate this day in many ways. Either you can offer help to someone in your circle or participate in a random act of kindness to a stranger. You can volunteer or donate to a charity.
It might be possible you only need to focus on yourself to be a happier person. You may take the day to look at how you can improve your relationships, or how you can find more fulfillment in your job. Or, it can be as simple as using this day as a starting point for making a daily gratitude list.
No matter what you decide to do on this day, you can connect and share how you chose to celebrate your happiness on social media by using #InternationalDayOfHappiness.
Why Do We Need to Celebrate this Day?
The goal of the United Nations on the inauguration of this day was to acknowledge happiness as a significant aspect of people's well-being and countries' public policy.
Bhutan reported having the happiest citizens in the world, reinforcing this mindset. It uses the Gross National Happiness index to determine their national prosperity, instead of the Gross National Product index, since they believe that a country can only develop if its people are happy with their lifestyles and achievements.
In 2009, the United States signed the Gallup Well Being index to perform a happiness survey with their people, clearly influenced by Bhutan's GNH. It asked a few questions concerning the business environment, physical and mental health, positive lifestyles, and access to basic needs to evaluate people's happiness and quality of life. [[1]]
You can check out the World Happiness Report, published on the International Day of Happiness annually, by clicking here. It contains a list of cities and countries ranked according to their happiness levels. You might be interested to discover, where you and your country rank on this list!
Why Do We Love International Happiness Day?
According to research, boosting your happiness level is as simple as elevating the mood of others around you. A study has discovered that happy, optimistic, and funny posts are shared way more than negative posts on social media. One little positive gesture in one country has the potential to lift the spirits of a whole population in another.
All you need to do is share the happiness because it is contagious!
Spread the Happiness by Sharing This Article
Comments are closed.