Happy International Day of Happiness

March 20, 2025

Every year on March 20th, the International Day of Happiness is celebrated by promoting the idea that part of humanity’s progress should include how to increase happiness and wellbeing. Wow! What a great idea. 

Just where did this great idea come from?

The year was 2011.  The members of the UN General Assembly collectively brainstormed ideas on how to recognize happiness as a fundamental human goal. From these exciting talks a resolution was born, calling for a more inclusive and balanced approach to economic growth promoting happiness as an essential part of progress.

The following year (2012) the General Assembly held the very first UN Conference on Happiness. From this event another resolution was adopted declaring International Happiness Day be celebrated annually on March 20th.

Inspired to find ways of enhancing human progress through happiness, in 2013 the world celebrated the first ever International Day of Happiness! 😃

What is this thing called Happiness? 

The “pursuit of happiness,” a phrase found in the Declaration of Independence, is an ideal upon which America is based. Merriam-Webster defines happiness as having “a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happiness.” But reasons for feeling happy vary from person to person.  Are you happy when delighted or glad?   Do you experience happiness when sipping a cup of good coffee or tea? What about when your dog greets you at the door after a long day, or when your cat purrs in your face …. do these signs of affection make you happy? 

Research has shown people feel happy if they have good quality relationships, are passionate about their job and/or hobbies, and by helping others through volunteer work or random acts of kindness. Other factors influencing happiness might include your overall satisfaction with life, your mood at the moment, and your ability to meet basic needs related to health, work, and finances  (although having extra money does not necessarily make people happier).

Have you ever considered what things in life make you happy? Do these things just seem to happen randomly or do you intentionally seek out ways to experience happiness? Have you taken the pulse of your happiness meter lately? 

When there are large numbers of happy people, it can make communities and even entire countries happier places to live. Some of the happiest countries in the world include Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia also rank in the top 10 for the happiest countries. The United States ranked 19th.

Looking for ways to observe this year’s International Day of Happiness? 

If the daily grind, never ending politics, or hearing about or even experiencing one natural disaster after another have got you down, I know the feeling. It’s high time to regain control of our inner selves and set free the happiness within. It may not be easy, but what better day to take on this challenge than March 20th, the official International Day of Happiness!

How to start? There’s probably as many ways to promote, create and achieve happiness as there are people in this world. If you already know what to do, great! But if you’re seeking ways to become a happier person and share your happiness with others, here’s some ideas I thought make good sense: 

To become a happier you:  Be kind to yourself, not overly self-critical or perfectionistic. Really savor your life experiences because this will intensify and prolong their enjoyment. Set meaningful goals for yourself that provide structure and purpose, give a sense of identity and increase self-esteem. Seek healthy challenges, stretching your abilities just a bit beyond your comfort zone to realize your potential. Build intrinsic motivation, rather than just relying upon doing things to please others. (‘Intrinsic motivation’ refers to the drive to engage in activities that are inherently interesting or enjoyable without external incentives or rewards.) Practice gratitude. Appreciate and make note of all the ‘ups’ (the good things) in your life rather than focusing only on the ‘downs’ or what you still desire. Be a problem-solver; avoid the temptation to vent, complain and reinforce negativity; instead, cultivate optimism and practice positivity regardless of circumstances. And last but not least, engage in random acts of kindness.

To promote happiness in others:  Take time to build and improve the quality of relationships with supportive people. Respond actively and constructively, celebrating when others share good news. Listen to others with 100% of your attention. Practice mindfulness, compassion and empathy. Maybe you can volunteer or help someone in need. And this is worth repeating ….. Take time to engage in random acts of kindness.

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For far too long, progress in the world has been all about the economy. But more people are realizing that happiness is also an essential part of progress. And come to find out, Flambé agrees! Especially when she can improve her relationships with the birds, bunnies, fish and frogs. Now if I can only teach her to sing instead of all that katter-walling she seems so fond of! Guess I’d better brush up on my constructive criticism? Hahahaha-Lalalalalalala-Hahahahaha!

Whatever you do on this day (and into the future), be sure to spread the happiness!

And as always, thanks for stopping by!