Celebrating International Day of Happiness Week

The International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world on 20 March. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.

Aim
The day recognizes that happiness is a fundamental human goal, and calls upon countries to approach public policies in ways that improve the well being of all peoples.

By designating a special day for happiness, the UN aims to focus world attention on the idea that economic growth must be inclusive, equitable, and balanced, such that it promotes sustainable development, and alleviates poverty. Additionally the UN acknowledges that in order to attain global happiness, economic development must be accompanied by social and environmental well being.

Background
The initiative to declare a day of happiness came from Bhutan – a country whose citizens are considered to be some of the happiest people in the world. The Himalayan Kingdom has championed an alternative measure of national and societal prosperity, called the Gross National Happiness Index (GNH). The GNH rejects the sole use of economic and material wealth as an indicator of development, and instead adopts a more holistic outlook, where spiritual well being of citizens and communities is given as much importance as their material well being.

Did you know?
The March Equinox, also known as the Spring Equinox, often falls on March 20th as well.

Here are 10 ideas for celebrating happiness in ways that will make you happier by doing them. This is the last day of Happiness Week – Take Action!

1. Be kind to yourself:
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”Dalai Lama. Being kind rather than critical towards yourself boosts happiness more than anything else I know. If you do one thing today, do this. Wish yourself well. Treat yourself as kindly as you would a small child.

2. Be grateful:
Gratitude is one of life’s most vitalising ingredients. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life. This can be accepting anther person’s kindness, appreciating nature, or recognising the gifts in one’s own life. Beyond these benefits, it feels good in its own right to appreciate that we have been “the beneficiary of freely and generously bestowed kindness.” In my course “Six weeks to a happier you,” we have just finished the session on gratitude and the most popular homework assignment was the pleasure walk. More ideas for experiencing the happiness effect of gratitude can be found in my previous post on an Aussie Thanksgiving experiment.

3. Be curious:
Ben Dean Ph.D., tells us that “Curious people have an ongoing, intrinsic interest in both their inner experience and the world around them. Curious people tend to be attracted to new people, new things, and new experiences, and they are rarely bored. Everyone possesses curiosity to some degree.” It is the antidote to judging ourselves and others and opens us up to everyday sources of happiness.

4. Take in the good:
One of my favorite practices from Rick Hanson. Make good facts become experiences by noticing them, savoring them for 15 to 30 seconds and really letting them sink in to your body. That way your brain and body really registers that happy moment and you override the brains tendency to be velcro for bad experiences and teflon for good.

5. Connect with someone:
Drop your agenda and really tune in to that person. Listen with your whole body. Notice how happy and energised you can feel to share a moment of understanding and ease really connecting with another person ands savour the warmth, respect and goodwill.

6. Read Love 2.0: Really. It will change how you see your opportunities for happiness and connection with others. It will really help with the suggestion above too!

7. Laugh:
We know laughter feels good, so find the joy in life today. Its good to know that thescience backs us up and that humour is intimately related to quality of life. Even smiling will usually make you feel happier.

8. Breathe:
Just breathing slowly in and out, slower out than in, for two minutes can reduce your stress and bring on a physiological relaxation response regardless of what your head is caught up in. Its portable stress management that works. And you are more likely to notice happy things around you after breathing this way. Give it a go.

9. Do one thing at a time:
I have written before about the madness of multitasking. And yet it is so seductive in our busy lives to try to do a few things at once. But research has shown that we are far less happy when we do. Even boring tasks are more enjoyable if we focus on them rather than let our mind wander.

10. Sleep: 
So when you have celebrated international day in all these ways, have a good night’s sleep. According to the American Psychological Association, more than 35 percent of Americans get less sleep than they need. A good nights sleep improves memory, increases people’s ability to concentrate, strengthens the immune system and decreases people’s risk of being killed in accidents. Mindful breathing for a few minutes before sleep can really help and more good ideas can be found here. Happy International Day of Happiness to you all.

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