According to the Dalai Lama, happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. And it's action that's front and centre today, as United Nations International Day of Happiness kicks off around the world.
A global event coordinated by
Action for Happiness, a non-profit movement of people from 160 countries, this year, organisers are are asking everyone to reach out and make new connections with others.
"Social isolation is as potent a cause of early death as smoking; and the epidemic of loneliness is twice as deadly as obesity." they say. "We could change this in a day if we all reached out and made at least one positive connection."
To get involved, Tweet or share a picture of what makes you happy and use the hashtag #InternationalDayOfHappiness. Here are three more ways to get happy... and cheer up a few others in the process.
Share a meal
The Community Potluck is a local community event where everyone is invited to bring a dish to contribute towards a shared meal (although all are welcome regardless of their ability to contribute). It is a free, family-friendly and alcohol-free event, where people can expect to enjoy a friendly and warm atmosphere. Guidelines on organising your own are available
here.
Join a mob
A series of flashmobs have been organised all over the world, check them out
here
Create a Happy Spot
In New York, the group
Let's Make it Happy have set up Happy Spots, or "safe places for public displays of happiness”. Passers-by can expect authentic compliments and group hugs with strangers.
