20 March is International Day of Happiness. It is also officially the first day of spring and the thought of warmer weather is already bringing a smile to my face!
International Day Of Happiness
When Was The International Day of Happiness Introduced?
In 2012, as a way of recognizing the importance of happiness in people’s lives, the United Nations introduced the International Day of Happiness which is recognized on 20 March each year. Ending poverty, reducing inequality and protecting our planet are three things identified as leading to well-being and happiness. These form part of Sustainable Development Goals that people are encouraged to work towards. But where does this concept of happiness come from?
Measuring Happiness in Bhutan
Happiness Rather Than Economic Measures
What makes you happy? Each of us would give a different response I guess. The Kingdom of Bhutan went to great lengths to discover the keys to happiness and measure them. The King of Bhutan was convinced that using economic measures dehumanized the development process of a country. He decided to measure the Gross National Happiness (GNH) of his subjects as a measure of success.
Pillars of Happiness
Since the original concept in the 1970s, the survey of measurement of happiness in Bhutan has developed into considering eight general pillars contributing to happiness. These are physical, mental and spiritual health; time-balance; social and community vitality; cultural vitality; education; living standards; good governance; and ecological vitality.
Knock On Effect
This survey has only been used in Bhutan but has stimulated considerations of measuring happiness in other countries. It also led to the development of the concept for the International Day of Happiness and the World Happiness Report.
What Is The World Happiness Report?
Subjective Well-being
The World Happiness Report measures ‘subjective well-being’, how happy people are and why. The first report was published in 2012. 2022 marked the tenth anniversary. According to the latest report, Finland was the happiest place on earth once again, followed by Denmark and Iceland.
Eight Steps to Happiness
The Four Noble Truths comprise the traditional teaching of Buddha. One of these truths sets out the eight steps to happiness. These are skillful understanding, skillful thinking, skillful speech, skillful action, skillful livelihood, skillful effort, skillful mindfulness, and skillful concentration. In other words wisdom, ethical conduct and meditation.
Mindfulness is very important as it supports the other steps by bringing mindful awareness to each of them. So, for example, we are mindful before we speak an opinion. Or perhaps as a friend of mine put it recently, ‘first engage brain before speaking‘.
According to Buddha:
To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind.
Final Thoughts
There are common threads here of what elements contribute to happiness. Many of these are external to us, but the importance of our mind and how we use it cannot be underestimated.
There was a British Comedian called Ken Dodd (actually Sir Kenneth Arthur Dodd, OBE). His career lasted 60 years entertaining people in the style of the old music hall entertainer. Namely stand up comedy and fast one liner jokes providing good all round family entertainment. In 1964 he released a simple little song called ‘Happiness’. The song sounds really dated now, but it has an innocence that we have lost along the way somehow. The video below gives you the lyrics. I think the words might strike a chord for this International Day of Happiness and seem a good note on which to end this blog post. Be happy!
This article was originally published in 2017 and updated and republished 20 March 2022
Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
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Thank you for reading!
Fascinating. I dug deeper and found the US is falling because of “declining social support and increased corruption”. I think part of it is also due to the rise of social media and the American need to “take sides” on every issue immediately. Some issues are more complicated than a FB meme.
Yes Audrey I noted that about the United States. If only we could all have some of what Norway and Denmark have got. Mind you I am pretty happy in my own little world I have to say.
Years ago I watched a documentary with Michael J Fox and he went to Bhutan because it was known as the happiest place. He also found that his Parkinson symptoms lessened while he was there, something that was quite visible to see on camera. Was it attitude or altitude?
Maybe a bit of both?
This is interesting, I read about the eight to happiness and it’s interesting how it explained. Thank you for sharing!
Glad you found it interesting, thanks for commenting.
Good information sharing on International Happiness Day. You gave me some knowledge from this post. Thank you.
I am glad you learned something Fadima – thanks for the comment.
Happiness and inviting/creating moments of intentional joy are big for me this year and are part of my theme of ‘health and wellness’ for 2022. I loved this breakdown of how happiness can be incorporated; thank you for this!
A great theme for the year Molly! Thanks for your comment.