The History Behind It: International Day of Happiness

Widespread Happiness // Starting 14 years ago this year, the International Day of Happiness was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations. To this day, it seeks to highlight the progression of society year after year into not just a more tangible, but also an intangible developed global community. (Photo by Jenai Atherall)

One of the most valuable parts of being human is the ability to feel, and arguably, one of the best emotions that comes to mind is happiness. Whether it comes from your favorite song playing on the radio in the morning or the memory of loved ones throwing a surprise party for you, one of the greatest gifts in life is the ability to live and feel happiness. 

Fourteen years ago, the United Nations General Assembly recognized that and decided to create the International Day of Happiness centered on the value of contentment. Often known to be an organization that focuses on investing in economic goals and human rights for the well-being of people, the UN also wanted to acknowledge the necessity of happiness for the well-being of all people. In turn, every year on March 20th, the UN invites everybody from all over the world to support the celebration of happiness. 

This day was first observed in 2012, and a variety of things occurred that triggered the eventual commemoration of the day itself for the first time in March of 2013. In 2011, the prime minister of Bhutan at the time, Jigme Thinley, was in support of a Bhutan policy to reinforce a GDP of happiness over personal income. This went on from the 1970s up to that point, and urged the UN to promote holistic happiness in the process of its effort for greater global development in comparison to solely a physical one. This philosophy of Gross National Happiness led to the UN’s adoption of a similar idea, and that triggered their redefinition of the concept and what it meant to their organization. 

“The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012 proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness, recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives,” the United Nations stated. “It also recognized the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples.”

In addition to Bhutan’s place in the commemoration of this day, so was UN advisor Jayme Illien. In support of Bhutan’s policies regarding happiness, Illien, also CEO of his own Global Public Benefit Corporation, proposed the idea officially and brought the attention of Bhutan to the UN in 2011. Prior to that, Illien was involved in a six-year campaign from 2006 to 2012 to pursue “happyitalism” in equivalence to capitalism. Eventually, the UN resolved through the observation of this day on March 20th, 2013, that above all else, their fundamental goal was human happiness. 

This year, International Day of Happiness lands on Friday, March 20th, and its theme is wellness, particularly pertaining to social media and its correlation to happiness. Every year, the UN adds a new theme to that particular year, making it relevant to the people living in it. Building upon last year’s theme of Caring and Sharing, this year’s theme is Social Media and Happiness. In the world we live in today, social media is one of the most impactful things on the happiness of all age groups. This year, the UN encourages people to promote positivity as it relates to social media by being mindful of how much social media they are using in their life, creating things to amplify people’s moods, and using social media with the mindset that it does not replace face-to-face connection with others. 

To celebrate this year’s worldwide day of happiness, it is also important to understand its correlation to the UN’s 17 goals for sustainable development, such as protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all, which were established in 2015. When the word “sustainable” comes to mind, most people automatically go to the environment. However, as part of the UN’s reform to a more holistic approach to well-being since 2012, they recognize that their goals to help society economically, environmentally, socially, etc., are not possible nor are they effective without the right of happiness and the need for satisfaction in life being met. Understanding the importance of happiness allows for more intention of it being promoted and celebrated amongst people. Rather than moving with the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, on this day, truly stop and smell the roses, have gratitude, and spread joy wherever you can. 

At its heart, the UN promotes this day in all 193 member states of its assembly to represent the significance and necessity of joy worldwide. Without mutual happiness, it is harder to achieve peace, and it is harder to establish a strong and equal economic standing if people are not content to begin with. The fight cannot be fought by the UN if the people who are fighting on behalf of all countries are not connected in some way. If people cannot connect over means of race, over means of economics, over means of philosophy, they can always connect over the need for happiness. Whether that is the need for being supported by others, the need to love, the need to laugh, a fundamental part of being human is happiness, because happiness is the reflection of love. At the end of the day, nobody is exempt from the need for happiness, and if anything, it should be celebrated beyond just one day of the year for the well-being of every human.