All 193 United Nations member states have pledged to give happiness greater priority. The UN is encouraging countries to understand that progress should be about improving human well-being in addition to growing the economy.
The theme of this year’s day was Happier Together, encouraging us to focus on what we have in common rather than what divides us.
The campaign is coordinated by Action for Happiness, a movement of people from 160 countries supported by a partnership of charitable organisations.
The patron of Action for Happiness is The Dalai Lama. Members work to actively increase well-being in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Their website shares the ten keys to happier living, which include giving, relating, exercise and acceptance. Their Twitter feed promotes motivational events to the movement’s 152,000 followers:
There isn’t a magical recipe for happiness, but there are lots of things we can do to make life happier – for ourselves and others too ☀️https://t.co/BcRCNGiSNC
— Action for Happiness (@actionhappiness) March 17, 2019
Here in Bournemouth, the University marked International Day of Happiness by encouraging students to share what makes them happy.
Two happiness walls were placed at Studland House on Lansdowne Campus and Poole House on Talbot Campus. Students shared their thoughts about what makes them happy and how the University can support their health and well-being.
In the 2019 World Happiness Report, the UK was ranked as the 15th happiest country in the world. This was up 4 places from 2018.
For information about International Day of Happiness, click here.
