“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” More than 2,000 years ago, Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that, and it is true until today. Who can argue against the “broad term that describes the experience of positive emotions such as joy, contentment and satisfaction.”
The United Nations General Assembly recognizes this “fundamental human goal” and calls for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.” On July 12, 2012, the UNGA in a resolution, proclaimed March 20 the International Day of Happiness, “recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives.”
In a few days, it will release the UN World Happiness Report 2024 which tracks how happiness can become an “operational objective of governments.”
The 2023 report which commemorated the 10th anniversary of the UN proclamation of International Day of Happiness, noted: “Since then, more and more people have come to believe that our success as countries should be judged by the happiness of our people. There is also a growing consensus about how happiness should be measured. This consensus means that national happiness can now become an operational objective for governments.”
The World Happiness Report also releases a list of the happiest countries. In the 2023 report, Finland maintained its No. 1 position for the sixth time in a row. Following it were Denmark, Iceland, Israel, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand. The Philippines ranked No. 76. In 2022, the Philippines was recorded as the second happiest country in Southeast Asia, and ranked 60th out of 146 countries.
Governments have been working on the happiness factor of its peoples but have been calling the initiatives under other terms. That comes under the many policies on good health, poverty alleviation, jobs and livelihood opportunities which will generate income to pay for the essential things in life, such as food. Many studies have shown that good health is a big factor in happiness.
In the 2023 World Happiness Report it was noted: “Having an effective government is also revealed to be a key factor in the happiness of the people, and this is measured by its ability to raise money, ability to deliver services, rule of law, and how it avoids civil war and repression.”
"Governments and international organizations should establish rights such as those in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They should also broaden the Sustainable Development Goals to consider well-being and environmental policy dimensions jointly in order to ensure the happiness of future generations," the report read.
We can all learn from Bhutan, a country which recognized the value of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s. It had adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product. Bhutan had initiated the UN resolution that established International Day of Happiness.
Efficient government leadership that duly recognizes emotional well being as a fundamental human right holds the key to the attainment of happiness by the entire citizenry.
