UN International Day of Happiness

[color-box color=”yellow”]I wish everyone around the world a very happy International Day of Happiness! The pursuit of happiness is serious business. Happiness for the entire human family is one of the main goals of the United Nations.” – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

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20th March has been established as the annual International Day of Happiness. This year will mark the third observance of the International Day of Happiness, which recognises the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in people’s lives and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.

What does Happiness Mean to You?

Mark Williamson, Director of Action for Happiness, asked this question at the recent launch event for London’s first Happy Cafe. The audience replied with a range of answers, including ‘being in love with life’, ‘feeling content’ and ‘sunshine’.

This year the United Nations is asking, ‘Does happiness have a sound?’ And if so, what does it actually sound like? Get involved by sharing what happiness means to you – share your happiest song on the HappySoundsLike website and also on Twitter using #HappySoundsLike.

Searching for Happiness

Action for Happiness, founded in 2010, is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society. Members of the movement make a simple pledge: to try to create more happiness in the world around them.

When Williamson searched for the term ‘happiness’ in the UK Charity Commission directory when starting his role at Action for Happiness this is what came up:

“Your Search For Happiness Has Produced No Results”

Today, the same search finds two charities: The Convoy of Happiness, a Manchester based children’s charity providing experiences for children who are unwell, and Discovering Autistic Spectrum Happiness, a Swindon-based charity working to improve the quality of life of adults of working age with Aspergers and other high functioning Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

10 Ways To Be Happier

Action for Happiness have put together a great guide on what factors tend to have a positive impact on people’s happiness and well-being using research relating to psychological / mental wellbeing.

What does Happiness Mean to You?

Read more on each of these areas on the Action for Happiness website.

What makes you feel happy? Let us know over on our Facebook page or via Twitter

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About Author

Nisha Kotecha is the Founder of Good News Shared. Having worked and volunteered for charities in the UK for over 10 years, Nisha is on a mission to highlight how amazing charities are.

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