{"id":2030,"date":"2017-03-20T09:49:38","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T09:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.happiness-speaker.co.uk\/?p=2030"},"modified":"2017-03-20T09:49:38","modified_gmt":"2017-03-20T09:49:38","slug":"international-day-of-happiness-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/?p=2030","title":{"rendered":"International Day of Happiness 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>International Day of Happiness<\/h2>\n<h3>It&#8217;s about more than smiley faces<\/h3>\n<p>International Day of Happiness (<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/internationaldayofhappiness?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#InternationalDayofHappiness<\/a>) has been celebrated since the UN created this day of celebration in 2013.\u00a0 This has always been about more than simply individual happiness, sunshine and smiles, and in 2015, the UN launched 17 \u2018Sustainable Development Goals\u2019 focusing on essential components of happiness and well-being: an end to poverty, the reduction of inequality, and the protection of our planet.<\/p>\n<p>This year, the UN have brought these under the banner of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/smallsmurfsbiggoals?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#SmallSmurfsBigGoals<\/a> and have launched this video:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"International Day of Happiness 2017 - Small Smurfs Big Goals\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4oB89nvdrdA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Happiness has developed a bad reputation over the years and is often associated with smiley faces and even a <a href=\"http:\/\/europe.newsweek.com\/positive-thinking-myth-498447?rm=eu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018tyrannical attitude\u2019 of positivity<\/a>, whereby everyone is expected\u00a0to feel and act all shiny, smiley and happy; this is due to the misinterpretation of positive psychology.\u00a0 Right from its humble beginnings, when a few psychologists got together and wrote the \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/ppc.sas.upenn.edu\/sites\/ppc.sas.upenn.edu\/files\/Positive%20Psychology%20Manifesto.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Positive Psychology Manifesto<\/a>\u2019, there was a strong emphasis on not just individual well-being, but also for communities and society to thrive.<\/p>\n<p>If it can feel like hard work to improve\u00a0our own happiness, then working on ensuring the world thrives may seem like an insurmountable challenge, but it is one that is worthwhile undertaking.\u00a0 We cannot flourish, as individuals, in isolation.\u00a0 In order to be truly happy, we need to go beyond the superficial, beyond the smiles and the laughter, and find meaning.\u00a0 It is through meaning, and a sense of purpose, that we can achieve true happiness.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So, should we all be miserable instead?\u00a0 Is happiness a fallacy? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Of course not.\u00a0 It is important for us to work on our own happiness and well-being, too.\u00a0 How can we even begin to make the world a better place if we\u2019re not looking after ourselves?\u00a0 It\u2019s the good old \u2018oxygen mask\u2019 analogy: When you\u2019re on a plane, you are always told during the safety instructions to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you help others; you\u2019ll be no good to anyone if you are unconscious or dead!<\/p>\n<p>It is also important, however, to recognise and remember that our work isn\u2019t done once we, as individuals, feel happy, and that there may be times when we feel real pain and anguish for others, or for the world at large, and need to take action to improve the situation before we can feel truly happy ourselves.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What can we do, then, to be happy? <\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4><strong><em>Find meaning and purpose <\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Is there a cause you believe in and want to support?\u00a0 Is there something happening in your town, your country, the world, that is niggling at you and that you wish you could change?\u00a0 Take action: \u00a0\u00a0Volunteer your time, donate money where it\u2019s needed (if you are able to), speak up about what\u2019s happening so that others are better informed.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><em>Play to your strengths<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Identify your \u2018signature strengths\u2019 by taking a simple and free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/survey\/account\/register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online test<\/a> (and in doing so, you will also contribute to on-going research). \u00a0Then, for seven days, try out a new way of using a key strength each day.\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.psykologtidsskriftet.no\/pdf\/2005\/874-884.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Research (see p. 881 of the report)<\/a> has shown that doing this can increase happiness and reduce depressive symptoms for up to 6 months. \u00a0Identifying your own strengths is only the beginning.\u00a0 Think about the power of identifying strengths in families, friendships, workplace teams and beyond.\u00a0 You could vastly improve relationships and the functioning of groups to achieve common goals!<\/p>\n<h4><strong><em>Take time out<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Allow yourself to rest and recharge.\u00a0 Make time to do things you enjoy. If you are constantly on the go, you will burn out and be no good to anyone, least of all yourself.\u00a0 Even a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.just-a-minute.org\/resource_centre\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">one-minute meditation<\/a>, if you are really pushed for time, can make a huge difference to your well-being. \u00a0Identify the things that you like doing to unwind and make time for them in your hectic schedule.\u00a0 You will not only feel happier, but be more productive as a result.<\/p>\n<h4><strong><em>Laugh<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Laughter is essential to your well-being.\u00a0 It can reduce <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yourhormones.info\/Hormones\/Cortisol.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cortisol<\/a> levels and release <a href=\"http:\/\/www.webmd.com\/depression\/guide\/exercise-depression#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">endorphins<\/a> into your system, reducing your stress levels and giving you an immediate feeling of well-being. \u00a0So make time to watch that funny film you wanted to go and see, don\u2019t feel guilty for watching silly, funny YouTube videos to brighten your day, and why not try <a href=\"http:\/\/www.unitedmind.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Laughter Yoga<\/a>?<\/p>\n<h4><strong><em>Sleep<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.apa.org\/action\/resources\/research-in-action\/sleep-deprivation.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sleep is essential<\/a> to your ability not only to be happy, but to function at your best and to be physically healthy. \u00a0Look at your habits; are you sleeping enough? Do you feel constantly tired?\u00a0 Could you add an extra hour or so of sleep to your nights?<\/p>\n<h3>Where do you start?<\/h3>\n<p>If it seems daunting to tackle everything at once, just start off small.\u00a0 Choose something from the list above and start working on your happiness, then build from there.\u00a0 You will have a richer, more fulfilled life as a result, you will feel happier, and you will contribute to making the world a better place.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that something worth striving for on International Day of Happiness, and every day?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>International Day of Happiness It&#8217;s about more than smiley faces International Day of Happiness (#InternationalDayofHappiness) has been celebrated since the UN created this day of celebration in 2013.\u00a0 This has always been about more than simply individual happiness, sunshine and smiles, and in 2015, the UN launched 17 \u2018Sustainable Development Goals\u2019 focusing on essential components [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,222,4,224,471,228],"tags":[5,80,475,88,476,477,152,478],"class_list":["post-2030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-business-relationships","category-happiness","category-personal-relationships","category-positive-psychology","category-relationships","tag-happiness-2","tag-international-day-of-happiness","tag-international-day-of-happiness-2017","tag-laughter","tag-meaning","tag-purpose","tag-sleep","tag-strengths"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2030"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2030\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/building.happiness-speaker.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}