The International Day of Happiness, celebrated every year on 20th March, is a global reminder that happiness matters. Initiated by the United Nations, this day emphasises the importance of happiness and well-being as fundamental human goals. If you want to celebrate International Day of Happiness and feel truly elated, you don’t need a lot of money… perhaps all you need is a change of perspective!
Here at The Creative Choice, we understand that happiness isn’t merely the result of external circumstances; in fact we KNOW that it’s never that. Happiness comes from an inner state cultivated through choices, perspectives, and actions.
Children are happy most of the time because they have not yet ‘learned’ to be miserable! Getting back to your inner child and experiencing the simple joys can help you reconnect to your Higher Self and your inner bliss.
Your happiness starts with YOU!
The UN highlights the role of happiness in sustainable development, encouraging us to pursue lifestyles that not only enhance our personal joy but also contribute positively to society and the environment. This year, the theme invites us all to focus on creating more happiness in the world around us through small, meaningful actions.
This is great because it recognises that it’s often the little things we do on a daily basis that result in our happiness, not the once-in-a-lifetime break that happens, well… once-in-a-lifetime!
Ways to celebrate International Day of Happiness
Here are five FREE ways you can participate in the International Day of Happiness and create more joy in your own life and those around you:
- Express Gratitude: Take time to reflect on the things you appreciate in your life. Gratitude elevates your vibration, making it easier to attract positivity.
- Practice Random Acts of Kindness: Small gestures of kindness, such as giving sincere compliments, helping someone in need, or simply smiling, can profoundly uplift others and yourself.
- Connect with Nature: Spending time outdoors has been proven to boost happiness levels. Take a walk, plant a flower, or simply breathe in fresh air to reconnect and recharge.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Dedicate some time today for mindfulness or meditation. Quieting the mind can enhance clarity, reduce stress, and invite a deeper sense of inner peace and happiness.
- Share Positivity: Share positive stories, uplifting quotes, or simply your own experiences of joy and inspiration. Positivity multiplies when shared.
- Start a Happiness Journal: Write down three things that made you smile today.
- Create a Happiness Playlist: Gather songs that lift your spirits and dance like nobody’s watching.
- Learn Something New: Try a creative activity or hobby you’ve always wanted to explore.
- Reach Out to Someone You Miss: Reconnect with an old friend or family member.
- Do a Digital Detox: Spend a few hours (or the whole day!) offline and reconnect with yourself.
- Cook or Bake Something Special: Share the delicious results with loved ones or neighbours.
- Declutter a Space: Create calm by tidying your environment, and welcoming fresh, positive energy.
- Share Compliments Freely: Brighten someone’s day by genuinely acknowledging their strengths.
- Visit a Favourite Spot: Take yourself somewhere that brings back joyful memories.
- Volunteer Your Time: Give back to your community and feel the joy of helping others.
- Watch Something Uplifting: Enjoy a feel-good film or comedy that makes you laugh.
- Create a Vision Board: Manifest happiness by visually representing your goals and dreams.
- Have a Mini Spa Moment: Pamper yourself with simple self-care—candles, baths, relaxation.
- Read Inspirational Stories or Quotes: Fill your mind with positivity and motivation.
- Write a Love Letter—to Yourself: Celebrate your journey, strengths, and uniqueness.
Remember, happiness is not a fleeting moment; it is an ongoing practice and a conscious choice that you make to see the best in everything and make the best of every situation.
Look at your life anew
One way to realise that you can be happy more, is to journal or document the times when you felt happy or had a really good day. I challenged myself to put some of these moments down on paper, so here is my list of 20 things that I’ve been happy about recently:
- A wonderful night out with my daughters, celebrating my birthday and dancing to an Abba tribute band
- Planting seeds in my garden
- Seeing my daughter get on the train to college on her own for the first time
- Looking up at the Blood Moon
- Finding the time to read something new every day
- Reconnecting with an old friend
- Eating a fantastic roast dinner made by my brother-in-law and a delicious trifle made by my sister
- Going to a local event about NDEs
- Fixing my washing machine myself
- Decorating my front porch for spring
- Cuddling up with my cats – all 4 of them
- Going for a country walk
- Seeing our hedgehog emerge from hibernation
- Playing the piano
- Making a short video for my Facebook page
- Getting time to paint my nails
- Coffee and cake at my local garden centre
- Listening to a record I hadn’t heard in 30 years
- Volunteering at our local mental health charity day
- My cat, Luna, sleeping on the bed with me!
Pets can bring a lot of happiness.
None of these are mind-blowing in the generally accepted definitions of ‘success’, but to me, they made me happy and that’s all that counts!
So, on International Day of Happiness, choose to create joy, share positivity, and contribute to a happier, more connected world.
How will you spread happiness today? Let me know in the comments below.
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