Let’s celebrate happiness
This Sunday, March 20 is the 4th International Day of Happiness. Every year, to mark the occasion, the United Nations releases the World Happiness Index to report on the state of global happiness. This year 157 countries were ranked based on happiness levels calculated by evaluating different variables including, GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy and generosity to name a few. The 2016 winners were Denmark, followed by Switzerland, Iceland and Norway. Canada was ranked 6th. Besides bragging rights, what do these rankings tell us? The purpose of the report is to help countries gauge readiness for implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which include ending poverty, addressing hunger by improving food security, ensuring healthy lives and quality education, strengthening partnerships and many other humanitarian goals that would benefit the world’s population. Happiness is increasingly considered a good measure of social progress and a goal of public policy. Over the years, the data and analysis in the Happiness Report has “helped to satisfy, and perhaps to fuel, growing public interest in applying the science of happiness to public affairs.” An interesting finding of the report is the importance of our connections with people. Social isolation is as potent a cause of early death as smoking. We could change this in a day if we all reached out and made at least one new positive connection. How can we increase happiness in our lives and our community?
- Do something kind for others.
- Volunteer your time, energy and skills.
- Get to know your neighbours.
- Look for the good in those around you.
Another important takeaway is that freedom and generosity have a large impact on positive feelings, which in turn has an impact on life evaluations. Generosity is a shared value proven to make people feel happier. In our own communities across the Lower Mainland we see the power of this generosity impact individual lives in meaningful ways. United Way’s vision is a healthy, caring and inclusive community is made possible because of the collective contributions of over 40,000 donors each year. Definitely something to celebrate on this International Day of Happiness!
