For Happier World, Look Within

Context: With this year's theme for International Day of Happiness (March 20) being "Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind", we should all learn to seek happiness for a happier society.

Initiatives for enhancing happiness

• Proclamation of March 20 as International Day of Happiness: During the 66th session of the General Assembly of United Nations resolution 66/281 of July 12, 2012.
  • It recognises the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of all human beings.
• Institution of United Nation's Happiness Index: which ranks countries based on indicators such as generosity, perceptions of corruption, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy at birth, freedom to make life choices.
• Indian initiatives: like measures for easing the lives of citizens, uplift of the downtrodden, better infrastructure, increasing employment opportunities, Fit-India campaign and Khelo India
• Initiatives by Educational institutes: incorporating measures to promote the science and practice of positivity for fostering a meaningful life, happiness, well-being, and holistic self-development.

Significance of happiness

• Philosophical aspect:
  • The Bhagwat Gita says there are three types of happiness — satvic, rajasic and tamasic.
    • The most cherished is "satvic", which when practised with "awareness" will also liberate one from sorrow.
  • A famous Sanskrit shloka says: "If the mind is happy, the entire world (seems) happy. If the mind is despondent, the entire world (seems) despondent. Hence, if you desire happiness, strive towards the happiness of the mind first."
• Happiness as a virtue: Happiness is a purely internal and intangible feeling, but its vibes radiate outwardly and collectively enable everyone's welfare.
• Scientific concurrence: It is scientifically proven that happiness can be hacked through positive connections and experiences that create a chemical reaction in human brains through hormones.
• Reduced crimes: It will help take society out from the menace of depression, suicides, human trafficking, and other ill-willed tendencies.

Way forward: to achieve happiness for a happier society -

• Revise the means to achieve happiness: i.e. by the strategy of learn, unlearn and re-learn.
• Change the nature of economic growth: Adopt an inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication and happiness.
• Adopt a bottom-up approach: Global good is not achieved through a top-down approach. It requires a bottom-up approach, with roots in the inner-core of an individual.
  • Thus, realising happiness at the individual level is more important – leading to -> a happy family, a happy society, and its fragrance will transcend national boundaries -> reduced inequalities.
• Adopt a minimalist approach over the consumerist approach: i.e. learn to seek happiness by limiting our desires rather than attempting to satisfy them.
• Create happiness through thoughts and actions in the individualist sphere: Interconnections of these individual spheres will lead to building a more just and harmonious society.