International Day of Happiness coincides with the holiday to promote well-being
The world celebrates the International Day of Happiness on March 20th amidst an atmosphere of joy and happiness, inspired by the spirit of the first day of Eid and its profound meanings of joy and human connection. This occasion is a genuine opportunity to promote well-being and awareness of the role of positivity in building stable and productive societies, where happiness becomes a lasting joy reflected in all aspects of daily life.
The roots of global interest in well-being
The selection of this date was not accidental; it stemmed from a landmark resolution by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, which recognized the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental human goal. This initiative was spearheaded by Bhutan, a country renowned for adopting the Gross National Happiness Index (GNI) instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of well-being since the 1970s. Since 2013, this day has served as an annual reminder to governments and their citizens of the importance of integrating well-being into public policy, thereby having a profoundly positive impact at the local, regional, and international levels, and placing the compass of development firmly in the human compass.
In this context, Dr. Mawaheb Al-Azouri, a researcher and social therapist, explained that feelings of happiness and contentment are directly reflected in attention to physical, mental, and psychological health. She emphasized the importance of adopting daily habits and routines that increase these feelings, such as exercising, reading, writing, and journaling, in addition to maintaining a healthy diet and regular sleep. She indicated that these practices help reduce stress levels in the body, improve the efficiency of the immune system, and enhance the body's ability to resist diseases, by God's grace, thus achieving a balance between the demands of life and its quality.
International Day of Happiness and Support for Family Relationships
Al-Azouri pointed out that supportive social relationships are a fundamental pillar for fostering a sense of belonging and achieving psychological support and stability, enabling individuals to face life's various challenges with resilience and competence. This aligns perfectly with the goals of the International Day of Happiness. She stated that the family is the first building block and the cornerstone for developing human values through socialization and a family environment based on the principles of support, dialogue, and trust. This is complemented by the role of supportive community institutions in developing life skills, such as volunteer work and social responsibility programs, to build a cohesive, positive, and balanced society.
It stated that the values of appreciation, motivation, empowerment, and teamwork in the work environment raise human motivation and sense of self-worth, which increases institutional loyalty, and thus raises productivity, innovation, and creativity.
Quality of life as a national priority
The social researcher pointed out that the focus on human quality of life is clearly evident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programs, which place the well-being of the Saudi individual at the heart of comprehensive development plans. She noted that the Quality of Life Program, since its launch in 2018 as one of the programs for achieving this ambitious vision, focuses directly on improving lifestyles and enhancing human well-being in all aspects of life, enabling individuals to live dignified and happy lives.
She added that this strategic direction reflects the firm desire to create an ideal environment that ensures growth and prosperity for the individual and society within an integrated system of services and opportunities that enhance indicators of happiness and general satisfaction for everyone.
The responsibility of the individual and society
Dr. Mawaheb concluded that happiness is not a fleeting word or a momentary feeling, but rather a lifestyle, a skill, and a responsibility adopted by individuals, families, and society to achieve balance between physical, mental, and psychological well-being. She emphasized that embracing these values contributes to building a prosperous, vibrant, and sustainable society capable of continuous giving and keeping pace with global changes with a positive spirit and an optimistic outlook on the future. She added that understanding the true meaning of happiness begins with simple, sustainable daily practices that ensure quality of life and achieve the desired well-being for all segments of society, so that excellence and innovation become the dominant characteristics of both human and institutional performance, consistently and continuously.
