 |
| Photo via http://24hoursofhappiness.com |
“Happiness is a mental or emotional
state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from
contentment to intense joy.” Wikipedia
Happy International Day of Happiness! Yes, this day is celebrated on March 20 to
basically help make the world a “happier” place. Do we need such a day, or is there a way to
celebrate happiness all year round? Of
course, asking this question raises questions like: “Do we need St. Patrick’s
Day to celebrate being Irish?” or, “Why do we only give presents at Christmas?” What it comes down to is really our awareness
of what qualifies as happiness in our lives.
The key of celebrating a day of happiness is to develop your
understanding of what makes you truly happy.
Did you know that Denmark ranks #1 as the happiest country
in the world, while the United States is #17? Why is this?
Americans spend an exorbitant amount of money on anti-depressant drugs,
self-help books, and inspirational speaking conventions. Yet we are always in search of the “perfect”
happiness. An article from Forbes tells
us that happiness is a choice, rather than something that is merely attained;
in other words, one has to consciously make the decision to be happy. The article goes on to give 5 “Ingredients of Happiness":
- Positive Emotions – choose to look at things from a more positive perspective
- Engagement – get involved/curious
- Positive Relationships – surround yourself with people who energize you
- Meaning – find something that speaks to your soul (give back)
- Accomplishment
Have you ever considered that this recipe for happiness
could actually equal our success? Think
about all those positive, optimistic, happy people you know…Studies show they
could end up being more successful and fulfilled in their life than those of us
who believe in the mantra that success equals happiness. The reality is we have it backwards:
happiness equals success!
So today, and every day, celebrate being happy and learn to
live and love your life! Try taking on
one or all of the “Ingredients of Happiness” above and see if making the choice
to be happy actually leads to your lifelong happiness.
If you need something to get you started, check out this
link with music videos of the “Happy” dance from around the world, featuring
Pharrell’s popular song. http://24hoursofhappiness.com
